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September 2014 Prayuth Appointed as Thailand’s 29th Prime Minister

On Your Bike!

Organising Hua Hin Beaches

Carrying Your Passport

Page 4 2 3 Editor’s Note Contents SeptemberJune started is known with a as special the quiet wine month dinner here, at butthe asCentara you can Grand see in Beachthis issue eed we it. have found so many things to do for our readers. 06 News On the political front,Best General Regards, Prayuth Chan- ocha has been appointedEleni as the 29th Prime Minister of Thailand. Closer to home, the 08 Fashion & Lifestyle local authorities have started to clean up and organise the beaches for the benefit of tourists and residents alike. O7 People in business Our cover story “On your Bike!” on page 16 shows you a perfect way of getting fit while enjoying the views in and around Hua Hin, not 12 Golf only for the tourists but for us residents as well. After last month’s introduction, Lizzy has now started writing her column “Lizzy’s corner” on 16 Cover Story page 32 for the German readers amongst us. Her colourful life and personality is definitely worth a read. 19 Cha-Am today For those that can not manage to go to their home country this summer, we have selected some restaurants in the article “Favourite Food 30 Motoring from Home” to satisfy that craving for your national food. Check out the Food & Wine Lovers section. 31 Wellness We thank Khun Lisa Onghang for her interesting interview on page 7, which highlights the important role of the Hua Hin Women’s Club in 34 Off beat our community. For the golfers amongst you, I hope that our world news monthly golf tips are paying off, many of you will be using the attractive green fees during the Hua Hin Golf Festival to play all the courses. 36 Spa & Health From 6 to 7 September the Hyatt Regency Hua Hin, will host its 5th Golf Hyatt Open at the Banyan Golf Club. This is a great tournament 38 Pet Care and I believe that are just a few spots left. We all enjoy the good life here, so it is good to balance that with some exercise, on page 24 and 31 you will find training programs that you can do from home or under supervision at the INSERTS : gym. You will feel so much better for it! Finally for those wanting to get away for a few Food & Wine Lovers days, Kan Air is now offering flights between Hua Hin and Chiang Mai, see page 10. Enjoy this issue, Property Today Michael van Doornewaard Who is in charge? Some Important Regional Contacts General Manager: Eleni Mastronikoli Organisation Hua Hin Cha-Am [email protected] Police 191 (Emergency) 191 (Emergency) Consultant: Michael Van Doornewaard 032 511 027 032 471 321 Editor: Pol. Maj. Gen. Noi Wannapaiboon Highway Police 1193 Sales Manager: [email protected] Tourist Police 1155 [email protected] Fire Station 199 (Emergency) 199 (Emergency) Assistant to the editor: Rotjana Saitakam (Nok) 032 511 666 [email protected] 1554 Graphic Designer: Grit Promprasert, Nicolas Cheimonidis Ambulance 1669 Accountant: [email protected] Medical Emergency Journalists: Chamnan Puengjoh, Supansa Kraiwaad, Soravit Eiam-Aek Electrical Call Centre 1129 Alcoholics Anonymous 089 587 682 Bangkok Hospital 1719 Where to find us! 033 616 800 Hua Hin Today Co., Ltd San Paolo 032 532 576 032 471 808 Address: 59/135 Soi Moo Baan Hua Na, Nongkae, Hua Hin Cha Am Hospital Prachuab Khiri Khan Hua Hin Hospital 032 520 401 Tel. 086 338 2203 / 090 435 8306 Website: huahintoday.com Transport Facebook: facebook.com/huahintodaynews Bus Station 032 514 477 Twitter: twitter.com/huahintoday Railway Station 032 512 770 032 471 159

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HUA HIN TODAY, September 2014 4 News Swim, Bike & Run The Queen’s Cup – Hua Hin International Triathlon 2014 The 6th Annual Hua Hin International Triathlon was staged at the Black Mountain Water Park on Saturday 9th August. This prestigious event gave elite athletes the chance to win the Queen’s Cup a week after HM Queen Sirikit’s birthday. This was one of the largest triathlons in Southeast Asia, and at an Olympic standard with a total distance of 51.5km. This year there were 500 competitors from many different nations involved. The Black Mountain Water Park provided a great spectator experience and the chance to see some of the fittest athletes on the planet! Our photos show some of the action and winners!

HUA HIN TODAY, September 2014 5 6 News Prayuth Appointed as Blue Crab Bank Launched Thailand’s 29th Prime Minister in Hua Hin The National Council for Peace and Order On 11th August 2014, the Deputy Governor Chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha has of Prachuap Khirikhan Province, Ms. been elected and appointed as the 29th Suwanna Anantakitphaisan chaired an Prime Minister of Thailand. He received opening ceremony for a Blue Crab Bank on a unanimous 191 votes by the National the beach in Hua Hin. Legislative assembly. The NLA president and two vice presidents abstained. The result Marine habitats, especially blue crab, in Prachuap Khirikhan are decreasing in was officially announced on 21st August. sea included 83 female blue crab with eggs, number due to overfishing. The aim of the 499 young crabs aged between 15 and 19 He was elected in a roll-call vote. NLA Crab Bank is to impact on this problem. Tuang Nanthachai nominated Prayuth and days, 7,500,000 young blue crab aged 1-10 the nomination was endorsed by 188 NLA Apart from increasing the number of crabs, days and 500,000 tiger shrimp. the project aimed to honour Her Majesty members. No NLA member nominated The event was also attended by the Queen Sirikit in celebration of her birthday other candidates to contest for the post. Director of the Bureau of Special Affairs on 12th August. The opening ceremony The election process official started when to the Royal Aide de Camp Department included releasing marine animals back to NLA President Pornpetch Wichitcholchai Admiral Suwan Tansuwannarat, the Chief the sea and raising the awareness of local informed NLA members of regulations announced and countersigned by National Fishery Officer of Prachuap Khirikhan, Mr. fishermen to preserving marine flora and agreed by NLA whips for selecting the PM. Legislative Assembly President Pornpetch Jitjarun Tantiwala, the Chief Fishery Officer fauna. The Crab Bank will also serves as a Wichitcholchai. Gen Prayuth then received of Hua Hin Mr. Wattana Nokkaew and the Prayuth was not in the meeting that elected the royal command in a ceremony on role model for water management. him as he had joined the anniversary Chairperson of the community of Takiab Monday 25th August. He paid homage to The marine animals released back to the fishers Mr. Montree Phongphanit. celebration of the 21st Infantry Regiment in the statute of King Rama V in front of the Lop Buri province. Kittikachorn Auditorium before receiving A Royal Command was officially the royal command. ‘The Winner Is’ Singing New Thai Fruit Market Contest Winner From Hua Hin Mr. Orarik Khunsith, 27, a Masters graduate from Hua Hin has been awarded 10 million Open in Hua Hin THB in a singing contest, ‘The Winner Is’, A new market for local Thai fruit is now open recently broadcasted by Channel 3 Thailand. in central Hua Hin to promote the product Mr. Orarik, said in the singing contest all to visitors and encourage them to visit the participants had to sing English songs and orchards in the area of the Pa La-U Waterfall. was divided into 6 rounds. In each round The Governor of Prachuab Khirikhan Mr. participants were paired in a knock-out Weera Sriwattanatrakul, the Prachuab singing contest. The winners could walk Khirikhan Provincial Office and the Huay Sat away with the money they gained from Yai Sub-District Administration Office have each round. However, if going on for the final launched the market on the ground floor of round, only one winner was awarded the Hua Hin Market Village. The market features prize and losers went home empty handed. many Thai fruit, including rambutan, Karen The prize winner added that all the Singing is one his favorite pastimes and he banana, longan and limes. The fruit is grown contestants were stressed at the final round has practiced singing since he was very by farmers living in the area of the Pa La-U and he did not do well when he sang, ‘This young. He can sing both classic and modern Waterfall Hua Hin. The area has been under Love’, a song by ‘Maroon 5’. However he Thai songs. Before participating in ‘The His Majesty the King’s royal initiative for over progressed to the final round and won the Winner Is’, he took part in a Hua Hin Singing 30 years with large orchards and dairy farms highest prize. Mr. Orarik said that, before Contest held by Hua Hin Municipality. managed by local villagers. taking part, he asked for spiritual support at As a graduate in mass communication, Mr. The most popular fruit of the orchards is many Buddhist temples in Hua Hin, namely Orarik said he would like be a D.J. or P.R. durian because it smells good and does not Wat Klai Kangwon and Wat Hua Hin. The staff more than a police officer, soldier or taste too sweet. The demand for durian from money he won will be used for advanced politician. He said some companies had Pa La-U is very high. Sold at the orchards or Durian from these four communities has a training in singing and future expenses as offered him a job already. He is now working the Huay Sat Yai Sub-District Administration sticker with the name of the orchard where his parents would like him to continue his with a music company that nominated Office the price is low, however the fruit is it is grown and the date when it is collected. education towards a Doctorate. him for the contest. He is glad to visit his also now sold at the new fruit market at The four communities at Pa La-U are After completing his elementary education, hometown in Hua Hin and really grateful for reasonable prices. supported by public administrators to serve Mr. Orarik went to Phetchaburi for his the warm welcome the municipality gave Mr. Weera added that orchard owners of 150 as an eco-tourism site in the rainy and the secondary education at Benchamathep him. households in Pa La-U, Ban Beung Nakhon, cold seasons. Climatic conditions resemble U-Thit High School. He graduated a bachelor Mr. Orarik was invited by Chomchuen Khao Jao and Ban Pa Deng communities northern Thailand. It is recommendable to all degree from Kasetsart University’s Nakhon Narongrit to a congratulations dinner regularly plant durian all year round. The visitors to Hua Hin that they pay a visit to Pathom campus and a with a Master Degree banquet where he gave a musical durian undergoes quality control by Pa La-U and experience the beautiful nature in mass communication from Chulalongkorn performance and donated some of the agricultural specialists and land developers. and local lifestyle there. University in Bangkok. money to the Hua Hin Red Cross. Hua Hin Beach to be Better Organised (and perhaps Cha-Am) Prachuap Khiri Khan provincial solutions for the reorganisation of Hua Hin Hua Hin City Chief Pornchai Thomkrajang authorities plan to urgently reorganise Beach. confirmed that cleaning up Hua Hin Beach is a necessary procedure which will improve Hua Hin Beach, one of Thailand’s most The aim is return order and cleanliness to the the Province’s image and provide the fullest popular tourist destinations, after popular beach, as well as to systemise the benefit to the public, although a group of allowing local entrepreneurs to violate standard of service and food prices on the Hua Hin vendors have traveled to Bangkok beach. The Governor wants all concerned regulations for a long time. to file a complaint to the National Council parties to come to a common agreement Prachuap Khiri Khan Governor Weera for Peace and Order (NCPO), asking the of regulations. in order to carry out the measures and Sriwattantrakul has called a meeting with council to reconsidering the cleaning up of regulations. Police officers have been visiting business the Hua Hin Municipal Office to work out the beach. premises beachfront and other Sois near Mr Weera said that cleaning up the beach Mr Pornchai said violation of the regulations to the beach considering the use of space would be carried out by the city workers, as would not be tolerated, and that all appre- extending beyond licensed business most beach entrepreneurs have consented hended suspects would face legal action. premises. to removing their stalls and understand Vendors who wish to continue operating their the necessity to clear the beach. As for Visitors are currently forced to walk on businesses in the beach area must strictly the price of food, the Governor said that the often busy road with public footpaths abide by the new rules set by the NCPO. representatives would be called in to meet being blocked either by ‘extended’ adjacent and discuss the prices for food, with signs Is Cha-Am Beach Next? businesses and a variety of other vendors. then put in place showing the new agreed The signs are that the Cha-Am beach is next This has been an issue in need of action by prices. in line for a clean-up and the enforcement the relevant authorities for some time.

HUA HIN TODAY, September 2014 People in business 7

This Month Khun Lisa Onghang in History Tell us a few things about yourself.

I have a family with one son and one daughter. I have a Master Degree in Social Science and Politics. My businesses, Hua Hin Golf Tours Co.,Ltd. include hotels, shops selling golf equipment and a restaurant. I am the Secretary of the Tourism Association of Hua Hin & Cha-Am, Past President of the Rotary Club and President of the Hua Hin Women’s Club. Do you have an idol in your life? My idol is my Buddha as I am very religious. My life is a normal life with good staff to run the businesses. Helping people and giving; that’s what I enjoy. Tell us 3 words about yourself. Kind, understanding and giving. If I know of poor people or see poor people, I give my help. How did the Women’s Club start? 1. Queen Elizabeth I, was born in The 1st meeting was on 13th February 2013. Greenwich, England, 1533 This Association was created by the Hua Hin Municipality. To start with the Mayor wanted to look after his people. There are many nationalities living in Hua Hin and he wanted to get them all together, the easiest way is to put the women all together. Our group gives help to whoever we can. We are happy to help other people including poor people, children and now we help women who have breast cancer. We always meet once a month, but informally we meet more often because we have fun; sometimes dinner with friends. Anyone can join the group who thinks the same way about life. Where do you find your inspiration? 2. The transistor was invented, 1947 It’s easy to find because everybody wants to help. We seek money from sponsors who like our ideas and like to help other people. What Rules do you have in your life? Think good, speak good and do the right thing. Looking back what advice would you give critical for them to be aware of? to your younger self ? What is the role of Woman in Thai society? In life you meet many people and many Everything is OK, think positive in life! I people have a lot of anger. You don’t have to Many of women are as successful as the would say well done Lisa. you are a very be friends with everyone. You cannot judge men. Men must accept that women can also hard working woman. My family was not people at first sight. People who act with be leaders. Now we are equal and now the rich; I had to work hard and wouldn’t like to anger may not be bad people and smiling all men don’t mind. Of course the family comes change anything, just keep working hard. the time doesn’t mean they are good. Got to 3. Viking II landed on Mars, 1976 first; husbands and children. The second My family love boys and I had to try more know people from their face or their mouth. thing is business and the third thing is to to get approval from my family and earn help other people. What is your favorite thing in Hua Hin? respect. The first thing is education and What do you want to achieve the next five the second thing is working hard; not with I like that it is a small town. When I am tired years? energy but with brains. I can go out like a tourist and see new faces, go to the market and have a break or walk In five years I would like to keep my family What advice will you give to your daughter? to beach get the good breeze. as it is and spend more time with them. Mum gave you your life but you have to In my business I want my children to take What is your message to our readers? make your own success. Success has to go over and in the Women’s Club I want to see together with happiness. Find something Life is too short and there is no time to do the Members being active. Many of our you love to do in your life and then you will something bad. If you give, you get good Members are good leaders and I believe be successful. feelings. You don’t need to expect to get everybody can be a leader and make the it back, your heart will feel good and that’s Club better. For the woman (or anyone starting their enough. own business) what three things are most 4. The Beatles recorded their first single, “Love Me Do,” 1962

5. The planet Neptune was discovered by Johann Gottfried Galle, 1846

HUA HIN TODAY, September 2014 8 Fashions & life style

Pinstripes Must Have Fashion For Fall That most masculine of prints, skinny and ready-for-business, pinstripes are Once again it is time of my favourite season of the year, Fall or as some back for her this Fall. Even done in basic people would say Autumn. menswear shapes such as slacks and blazers, everything has a slouchy sex For many it is synonymise with beginnings, from trying out a new wardrobe, a appeal that’ll bring a buzz to any office. new job or even a new hairstyle. Many people also like the fact that Fall offers you the chance to wear pretty-much whatever you desire. This season is full of trends that will be suitable for Hua Hin and its heat, a colour palette with all shades of pastels, bold prints, and touchable embellishments but also in shapes to win over the heart of a minimalist. To make it easy, follow our guide to the top 10 things you will be wearing all Fall.

Cut-out Clothing and Super-slits Next season’s biggest dose of sex appeal is sure to come from slits that Fur Accents are approaching hip level. Whether it’s a sultry dress ready for cocktails or Fur on the Fall runways is nothing new. I something more typically buttoned know it seems useless to speak about this up for those meetings at work, we’re trend when it is over 30 degrees outside, big fans. but the way we saw it walking down this season’s catwalks felt different. There With the idea of preserving subtle were still plenty of full-on coats and sensuality even during the cooler throat-covering snoods (a kind of knitted months, cut-out clothing is set to scarf), but stripes and patches were also effortlessly be perfect for the high spotted on dresses, tops, and jackets. seasons in Thailand. Exposing just the While the trimmings might not keep you toasty, they’ll certainly serve to add right amount of skin, cutaway clothing some Fall touch in our looks. is yet to make its final statement. Pretty in Pastel The most surprising trend to gain Leather Moto Theme traction for the Fall and we won’t Typically reserved for looks that complain with the sun shining in are either sexy or tough, leather Thailand, is a healthy dose of pastel has now officially gained a shades. The sugary shades are place as an everyday wardrobe typically associated with Spring essential. Powerful and edgy, collections, but the light they bring bringing a different kind of sex- is always welcome to our eyes. Look appeal, the moto girls covered for feminine dresses, yes, but also in layers of leather and moody sharp shirts and loose pants. colours will be running in the This season they will successfully streets this fall. Expect new replace the moody greys and all the takes on the biker jackets, more blacks from last year’s wardrobes leather boots, zippers, buckles and will be perfect for our purses. and sexy mini-skirt silhouettes. The items we purchased over summer will follow us to enter Fall 2014, sweet and romantic. Punk 90’s Grunge According to forecasting agency Jewels Runways Trendstop, punk fashion will continue No season is complete without a touch to evolve into Fall, with “styles that of sparkle, or so it seems to appear to might run for A few seasons”. The punk be. Eye-catching rhinestones, shining rebellion is also set to access a new level beads and luxurious crystals which evoke of sophistication with the glamour of the best red carpet. Less its signature elements. extravagant and more on the sophisticated Plaid in its grungy side, next season’s embellishments and chic look is also become key to accenting both femininity predicted to stay on as and the concept of modern clothes! a major pattern trend. This autumn’s prints will grow into a display of subtle sophistication, and appear effortlessly glamorous. 1950s fashion One can also expect the Fall and Winter of 2014 to witness an ever-growing sensibility towards the 1950s signature elements of femininity. The swing jackets and midi-skirt will be fast-rewind to the past, together with tight waists and elbow Lady-like Leopard length gloves, calling to movie icons such It’s with a big smile as Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn. on my face that I can confirm: the fashion world isn’t over leopard yet! The classic bold print was used on coats and dresses, but more subtle incarnations were also spotted, in Out-of-season Blooms case you prefer your Floral prints on the runway? Nothing new! feline understated. But remember which season we’re in Fall. Either way, embrace it Fresh flowers are forever seen through next season. Spring collections, but it’s the first time we’ve seen such a full bouquet for this season. Bright pinks, purples, and reds were common and took centre stage.

HUA HIN TODAY, September 2014 9 10 News Kan Air Expands Network Central Bank Warns To Hua Hin of Counterfeit 1,000 baht Bank Notes The Bank of Thailand has warned the space of authentic notes are noticeable people of its detection of counterfeit 1,000 on both sides. Their Thai paintings are baht banknotes in circulation but assured translucent and their metallic sheens show they could be easily distinguished by sights their denomination numbers. Additionally and touches. the denominations on a corner of the bills change their colours when the notes tilt. The Central Bank said the counterfeit banknotes it discovered bore the serial The Central Bank said authentic banknotes numbers of 9ฉA 3828862 and 9ฉA 3828863. were made from special paper that were They could be easily distinguished as they hard and durable and tolerated folding did not have the watermark of His Majesty and pulling, touching the denomination the King. numbers of genuine notes give the feeling Kan Air, which based in Chiang Mai, has region or Isan) and Hua Hin (Prachuap Khiri of friction. presented its new routes to Hua Hin and Khan Province) will be available on Fridays The watermarks of the King on the white Ubon Ratchathani from Chiang Mai. They and Sundays. One-way ticket costs THB were launched on 15th August. Hawker 2,990. Beechcraft Premier 1 private exclusive jet Contact Kan Air Phone: + 66 (2) 551 6111 with 6 seats will operate the new routes. Email: [email protected] Flights to Ubon Ratchathani (Northeastern Website: www.kanairlines.com Wheel Clamp Campaign Underway

NCPO’s Decision to Keep Tax Cuts Welcomed

Police have launched a nationwide June 9th and has since received good operation to lock the wheels of cars found feedback from people and reportedly violating the law in a bid to ease traffic helped ease traffic, Wuthi said, adding congestion. that the operation will now be extended to neighbouring provinces, including Samut Pol Lt-General Wuthi Liptapallop, an Prakan, Nonthaburi and Pathum Thani. adviser to the Royal Thai Police in charge of traffic affairs, recently presided over He added that the wheel-locking policy the official launch of the operation at the would be applied to all “No Parking” areas. Traffic Police Command. There have been public complaints that The move will help boost Thailand’s competitiveness and encourage many motorists parked their vehicles in Bangkok’s 230 traffic policemen equipped economic growth and maintain investment. “Prices of consumer goods no-parking areas on secondary roads and with 210 sets of wheel-locking tools will home consumption, say experts will rise if VAT is increased, which will then alleys, instead of the main roads where they target 10 locations in the capital, including lower people’s purchasing power, and would surely get busted, he said. Police Experts agree that the National Council Soi Pradipat 20, Silom Road, Yaowarat since the GDP relies greatly on domestic have also spoken to the representatives of for Peace and Order (NCPO)’s decision to Road and Kamphaeng Phet Road. The consumption, there is a need to maintain some 100 markets to ease this problem, he extend the cuts on personal and corporate campaign was unofficially launched on this purchasing power,” he said. added. income tax and maintain value-added tax at 7 per cent for another year will As for keeping corporate income tax at 20 help maintain domestic consumption and per cent, Therdsak said this policy was in continue to boost growth. line with the measures that had been put Steering wheel phone hold- in place earlier to prepare for the launch of The NCPO said VAT would remain at 7% the Asean Economic Community (AEC). from October 1st until September 30th ers totally illegal, police warn 2015, while personal and corporate income The previous government had cut corporate If you’re checking out the screen attached tax reductions would be in place until the income tax from 30 to 23 per cent to help to your steering wheel while driving, you’re end of December next year. boost the Kingdom’s competitiveness breaking the law. ahead of the launch of AEC next year. Personal income tax at present is divided Those popular plastic holders that hold into seven categories instead of five and “The cuts will help maintain the country’s a smartphone to the steering wheel to the rates - 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 37 per competitiveness since Thailand is already facilitate chatting and texting while driving cent - depend on the taxpayers’ income, on the frontline in terms of tax rate and are totally illegal, police have warned. while corporate tax is now capped at 20% the measure is within the framework put in instead of 23%. place by the previous government,” he said. The accessory is said to distract drivers, and using one is punishable by a fine of Vallop Vitanakorn, Vice Chairman of the Somchai Amornthum, executive THB400 - THB1,000, according to Deputy Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), said his vice president of Krung Thai Asset Metropolitan Police Chief Maj. Gen, Adul organisation welcomed NCPO’s decision Management’s research department, said Narongsak. The law only allows drivers to extend the tax rebates because it keeping VAT low would help ease the to use a handsfree phone for talking only, will help maintain people’s purchasing anxiety of consumers, but the government their hands must not touch or hold the power and boost consumption, while should eventually raise the tax to boost phone. lower corporate taxes will improve public income.

HUA HIN TODAY, September 2014 News 11 Too Little, Too Late: Tourist Arrivals Increase New Study Finds Most Thais Gradually Have Poor Retirements A new study has revealed that many Thais do not start saving for their retirements until they are well beyond their thirties, and that this causes many of them to live poorly and and sometimes even in extreme poverty during their elderly years. Research conducted by the Stock Exchange of Thailand showed that Thais generally only start to put money aside for their retirement at the average age of 42, which is significantly later than many countries whose citizens are more underestimate their future cost of living, concerned with having a content and and this naive attitude leaves them poor financially-secure retirement. The United at retirement. States in particular has seen a boom in people striving to retire early and have Out of the priorities offered in the study, money to spend during their later years, most Thais chose buying cars and houses The Department of Tourism says foreign By region, arrivals from East Asia were even though it was predicted that fewer as their most important priorities, along tourists are returning to the country with down 17.6% for the first seven months of people would retire early due to the 2007 with getting married and travelling before arrivals last month gradually rose to 1.91 2014 from a year earlier. Arrivals are up financial crisis – in fact, recent research the age of 40. It is only after these things million from 1.56 million in June. 3.1% from Europe and 9.6% from Africa. show the opposite has happened since have been acquired or accomplished Declines were seen from the Americas However when compared with the same then, with mass layoffs being cited as one that they might consider the quality (3.5%), the Middle East (6.9%), South Asia month in July last year, arrivals still fell reason for the shift in retirement patterns. of their retirement. A researcher from (10%) and Oceania (1.6%). 10.9%, It said the number of foreign tourists the University of the Thai Chamber of However, despite Thailand’s normal arriving in Thailand in July this year fell The lucrative tourist sector, which accounts Commerce (UTCC), Mr. Jitmaneeroj, said retirement age of 60 being lower than the 10.9% from a year earlier. But compared for about 10% of the economy, suffered its that these findings were worrying for Thai US and many other countries, the majority with 1.56 million arrivals in June this year, biggest drop in visitors in June; the first people and that delaying retirement plans of Thais do not find it vital to put aside a July’s arrivals of 1.91 million represented full month after the army took power on would negatively affect their lifestyles and reasonable percentage of their earnings an improved tourism situation. May 22nd in a bid to end tensions and get those of their children. for the seemingly-distant future. Retirees economic activity going again. Arrivals from China, the country’s single in countries like Austria, Denmark, and He said that the government and biggest visitor source accounting for 19% But tourism improved gradually in the Netherlands (where the retirement authorities need to raise awareness and of all arrivals, tumbled 25.3% from July following months after several measures age is 65) generally enjoy retirements educate people about investing and 2013. For the first seven months of the were implemented by the military junta free from poverty, with many also taking saving their money in order to enjoy a well- year, arrivals totalled 13.62 million, down to stimulate the economy, bring back advantage of the availability of elder care funded retirement. He also mentioned that 10.7% from 15.26 million a year earlier, investors and tourists’ confidence. facilities and retirement homes. The same it’s about time the normal retirement age an even deeper drop than the first-half is true for countries like Germany (where be extended, just as many other countries decline of 9.9%. the concept of retirement originally came have done, due to rising life expectancies from), Italy, and Norway, despite the and better health in old age. retirement age being even older, at 67. The study also showed that more Thais Thailand’s need for elder care facilities are are in debt than previous studies, with the Mo Chit Bus Terminal growing, but in current times most retired average person in debt owing 13,358 baht Thais, whether as part of a couple or not, per month. Other findings also showed To Be Moved ‘In 3 Years’ live at home or with relatives. This creates that the average household debt in a further strain on younger families who Thailand had increased from last year; the might have to take care of them financially. record average now stands at 219,158 baht The study also found that most Thais per family in June 2014. Clampdown on Bangkok Taxi Drivers The Land Transport Department in are prone to violate regulations such as cooperation with the 11th Army Circle have refusing to accept some passengers started a clampdown on taxies in Bangkok The “high risk” points include Future Park to make sure that they use meters and do Rangsit, Yaowaraj road, Mor Chit bus not reject passengers. terminal, Central World shopping mall, Colonel Virat Wongchan, Deputy Mahboonkrong shopping mall, Paltinum Commander of the 11th Army Circle, has mall in Pratunam, Soi Nana, Temple of the said the clampdown on taxi services was Emerald Buddha or Wat Phra Kaew. one of the policies of the National Council Land Transport Director-General Mr for Peace and Order to ensure more safety The state-owned Transport Company requested the Transport Company move Atsathai Rattanadilok said officials and better services for the passengers. is looking to relocate its bus terminal because it needs the space to develop would check the driving licences and ID in northern Bangkok in a move that is other projects. Uniformed and plainclothes military and cards of the cabbies. Violators of these estimated to cost more than 1.5 billion Mr. Wuttichart expects the plan will cost land transport officials will be deployed at requirements will be liable to a 1,000 baht baht. eight “high-risk’’ points where taxi drivers fine and/or one-month jail term. over 1.5 billion baht and suggested three Wuttichart Kallayanamitr, managing ways to foot the bill: the state could bear He added that the cabbies director of the Transport Company, sole responsibility for the budget, the must use meters and must not said the Bangkok Bus Terminal needs a state and the private sector could share refuse to accept passengers or larger space and a new location to meet the cost, or the private sector could they will face stern action from the growing number of buses traveling pay for the relocation in exchange for the authorities. between Bangkok and other provinces. rights to administer the new terminal for commercial purposes. There are about 160,000 taxies “We need a space larger than 100 rai,” Mr. operating in Bangkok and its Wuttichart said. “As for the location, we Although the SRT requested the Transport suburbs and up to 20 percent may choose somewhere on Phaholyothin Company move Mo Chit Terminal by of the drivers do not have Road because the new terminal will next year, the relocation won’t be licences. Most of the complaints handle transports from northern and completed until three years from now, Mr. against taxi drivers deal with northeastern routes, which are used by a Wutthichart said. their use of rude language with lot of passengers.” passengers and rejecting Thai The Transport Company director added passengers in favour of foreign The State Railway of Thailand (SRT), that the plan still needs formal approval passengers. which owns the plot of land where Mo from the military junta’s National Council Chit Terminal is currently located, has for Peace and Order (NCPO).

HUA HIN TODAY, September 2014 12 GOLF Springfield Turns It On To Open The 2014 Hua Hin & Cha-Am Golf Festival Representatives of the Regions Golf Courses see the opening at the prestigious Jack and government officials welcomed golfers Nicklaus designed Course. Mr. Theera said playing in the opening Event of the Golf that it was a great event and boosts tourism festival at Royal Springfield Golf Course on in Thailand with promotion to foreigners Sunday 10th August. from Asia and in Europe. The Springfield Driving Range was the Mr Theera is eager to have Provinces venue for the opening ceremonies with of Phetchaburi and Prachuab Khirikhan Mr. Monthien Thongnit, the Petchaburi named as ‘the golf provinces of Thailand’, Governor doing the honour, cutting the particularly as a number of famous Thai ribbon and setting free balloons, before golfers, including Thongchai Jaidee, Prayat taking his own place in the field. Maksang and Phrom Meesawad are from one of the two provinces. He hopes that The General Manager of Springfield, Mr. golf-training schools for high schools and Theera Yenjai was particularly pleased to universities in Cha-Am and Hua Hin can be

opened to train more professional golfers in Thailand. The Hua Hin & Cha-Am Golf Festival offers reduced price green fees on most of the Regions Golf Course as well a regular competitions and the chance to win a car in a lucky drawer with tickets given to all players during the months of August and September. The Festival provides a great marketing opportunity to attract more visitors to the Region away from the high season.

HUA HIN TODAY, September 2014 13 14 GOLF Black Mountain - Maxi Golf, Midi Golf or Mini Golf? There are three choices for golf at Black Mountain and that’s not counting the driving range or other practice areas. Of course the main championship course stakes centre stage as ‘maxi golf’. This is clearly one of the finest golf courses in the world with multiple awards, endorsements and recognition.

Add to that the par three course, the ‘midi’ version. Not just a chip and putt or ‘hit and giggle’, this is a serious tune up for the short game. Lots of water, bunkers and contoured greens, not for the faint-hearted or beginner.

What many regular visitors to Black Mountain may not realise is that there is also have a ‘mini’ version of the game. Alongside the clubhouse, on the left as you approach, there is an 18 hole mini golf course. For 300 THB per hour, you and your family can enjoy a fun time trying to

figure out the breaks and nuances of the ball at a mini golf course as a child at some synthetic surfaces. less sophisticated (and maintained) mini golf course. It’s not really a serious version Best to take your own putter and golf balls; of the game but especially for kids to get a bookings are probably not really necessary taste for the game and take a look at ‘big but you may need to call into the clubhouse brother’ next door, this is the way to go. first as the kiosk is not always manned. Well worth the trip to Black Mountain for Many golfers have experienced and perhaps you and your family to test your skills or become addicted to hitting that little white just to have lots of fun! Stableford Scoring – D.I.Y. Stableford is a format that every golfer will encounter at some time in competition play. Points are awarded according to the number of strokes made, the player’s handicap and the index or difficulty rating of each hole. Winners have the highest number of points, not the lowest number of strokes. The Stableford handicap. We are assuming that you have a strokes on 7 holes (index 1 – 7); handicap 32 After each hole, check your score with System was real handicap that is up to date. means two extra strokes on 14 holes (index the marker for both the strokes made developed by 1 – 14). as well as the points scored. You’d say Dr. Frank Barney What About the ‘SLOPE’ Rating? something like “five and two”, meaning Gorton Stableford No matter how easy or difficult a course is, Handicap 36 means two extra strokes on five strokes and two points. (1870–1959), to the best golfers will often score close to par. every hole. However the scores of less-proficient golfers Record the strokes made as well as the deter golfers from Prepare and Make It Easy; Mark the giving up on their are more strongly affected by the difficulty points for both you and your marker. of a golf course. There is an accepted Scorecard Before You Start The Round However if no points are scored, just round after a One way is to mark a slash ( / ) through the few bad holes. It system to adjust handicaps according to ‘scrub’ the score ( ), even if you finish the difficulty of the golf course, known as hole index number for the holes that you the hole don’t record the number of was first used at receive 1 extra stroke and 2 slashes ( // or X Wallasey Golf Club the Slope or Course Rating. For the sake strokes. of simplicity, we’ve chosen to ignore Slope ) for 2 extra strokes. in England in 1932. Record the scores away from the green adjustments until another day! When you add the number of extra strokes According to the Rules of Golf, the but before leaving the next tee box. In a standard Stroke event, a Net score is to the par of the hole, this becomes Scoring should not delay the game. If Committee for the Event has responsibility your ‘handicapped par’, worth 2 points. to calculate the points according to the calculated by deducting the handicap from you are teeing off first, perhaps after number of strokes declared (Rule 33.5). the strokes taken at the end of the round. In your tee shot. However worldwide, players record both Stableford, the handicap is applied at each hole to calculate Stableford points. When the round is finished, only add their strokes and their Stableford points; this the number of Stableford points and is accepted everywhere as ‘best practice’. How many extra strokes are allowed confirm the total with the marker before Some regular golfers say they don’t know because of the golfer’s handicap and hole signing both cards. It’s not hard and will how to score. Every golfer needs to learn difficulty? soon become automatic. The scoring and get into the habit! A zero handicap means no extra strokes table will appreciate your assistance; it’s are allowed. confirmation of the scores for everyone. Stableford allows golfers to have one or two horror holes and still be in the hunt. It is Handicaps between 1 and 18 receive one That’s it………… also intended to speed up play. When too extra stroke on the hardest holes according Playing to your many strokes are taken to earn any points to the handicap. For example, handicap 2 handicap means (maximum 3 over par) a golfer picks up the means one extra stroke on 2 holes (index 1 & Alternatively just mark the holes where the 36 points for 18 ball and moves on. No wasted time endlessly 2); handicap 16 means one extra stroke on 16 strokes are different from the rest; you’ll holes, but don’t trying to clear a water hazard or escape an holes (index 1 -16). Handicap 18 means one soon work out your own marking system. expect to be a impossible bunker. Continuing play when extra stroke on every hole. winner. If you This Table Shows the Stableford Points get the points points cannot be scored is frowned upon Handicaps over 18 get at least one extra and inconsiderate to other players. according to strokes made, extra strokes wrong you can’t be penalised, just talk stroke on every hole, but two extra strokes received & par of the hole. with the Match Committee to sort it out. The Basics on the hardest holes. Just deduct 18 from Scorecards show the index or the difficulty your handicap to find out how many holes *Just remember!...... making your Get into the habit and join real golfers rating of each hole. Index 1 is rated as the have two extra strokes. For example, handicapped PAR earns 2 points; then who understand Stableford scoring; hardest hole, through to index 18 as the handicap 19 means two extra strokes on one increase or reduce your points from then always Do It Yourself! easiest. Another essential ingredient is your hole; index 1. Handicap 25 means two extra that baseline.

HUA HIN TODAY, September 2014 15 16 Cover sTory On Your Bike! Guided Bicycle Tours in and around Hua Hin. You see more bicycles on the road each day, pedal biking is becoming very popular indeed. A great way to avoid the traffic, a healthy way to exercise and on top of that you see so much more compared to being in a car.

Several companies are offering guided bike tours in and around Hua Hin. We spoke with Christopher Byrd, who started Tour de Asia, one of the original companies that offer guided bike tours.

Chris came to Thailand in 2002 and after working for a few years in several jobs in Bangkok, he started Tour de Asia. In November 2003 he completed a charity solo ride from Hat Yai to Chiang Mai, covering 3.200 km in 23 days plus 5 rest days! For this ride he collected $US?10,000 which was donated to a Thai charity.

Following that trip, more charity rides were organised and 6 years back Chris was contacted by the charity organisation “Hands across the Water”. They asked him to organise charity rides through Thailand with distances of between 500 and 800 km over 5 to 8 days for up to 65 riders. Growing in popularity, the next tour is planned for routes are 100% flat, so there might be the January 2015 with 130 riders; the route will odd climb and descent, but on the whole – be from Petchaburi to Kao Lak covering easy! 800 km over 8 days. During the same period, there is also a 5 day tour from Beung Moderate: Suitable for reasonably fit people Khan to Yasothan of 500 km, 40 riders have who are confident riding long distances. signed up this one. Active: Longer cycling mainly on tarmac, Hua Hin Bike Tours is offering all-inclusive with potentially some jeep trails or broken quality bicycle tours every day of the week tarmac, but no real off road. There may be and they can customise each tour to better some hills and descents but not too many. suit the customer’s needs and expectations. Testing: Long cycling days and tougher For most tours the riders will be collected terrain (for both on- and off-road trips), from their accommodation between 7:30 requiring specific experience in more and 8:00am, returning around 3:00pm. demanding and technical cycling. The guided tours include, lunch, water / soft drinks / fruit, entrance fees (when Below is a selection of some of the tours on applicable), return to your accommodation, offer; the use of modern Marin hybrid bicycles and helmets. Each tour is escorted by a support 1. Gears, Grapes and Vineyards – 1 day tour vehicle, just in case you get a flat tyre or THB 2.750 all-inclusive per person, 30 km need first aid. The company offers tours for ride, 3 – 4 hours riding time. Grade: active. a minimum of 2 people to a maximum of 8, Pick Up between 7.30 to 8.00 am and return to keep it very personal. around 3.00 pm. The tour starts at Huay around 3.00 pm. A must for those that want The bicycles come from Marin in California Monkhol Temple; from there it goes through to enjoy secluded beach fronts. The tour (USA), a well-known brand of quality “traffic free” country roads with many starts at the south end of Dolphin Bay riding bikes. The bicycles are replaced every 1.5 stops along the way, lunch is served at the along the beach for about an hour, going years, providing the customers with great beautiful and famous vineyards of Hua Hin. through some fishing villages with plenty of equipment that is new or almost new. 2. Dolphin Bay and Khao Kalok – 1 day tour stops for pictures, water, fresh coconuts etc. Then on to Khao Kalok and from there to The tours have been graded as follows; THB 2.750 all-inclusive per person, 22 to 29 the Pranburi beach with a lunch provided at Easy: suitable for anyone who can ride a km ride, 3 – 4 hours riding time. Grade: easy. a Thai seafood restaurant. The last leg of the bike and can manage a bit of exercise. No Pick Up between 7.30 to 8.00 am and return tour is to Pak Nam Pran.

3. Morning Hell Ride – ½ day tour THB 1.500 all-inclusive per person, 30 km ride, 3 hours riding time. Grade: testing. Pick Up between 6.00 to 6.30 am and mountains that will make your heart feel return around 10.00 am. This ride is for like it wants to jump out of your chest. We experienced riders that really want a good should have you back to your hotel in time workout while getting a familiarisation to catch the breakfast buffet before they tour of Hua Hin. If you have been stuffing close it down. yourself with breakfast buffets and lying There are several more great rides to choose around the beach and hotel pool every day from, please visit www.huahinbiketours.com you may want to get a good workout in for more information on this. before heading back home to your normal routine. Locals may want to check it out too The office and shop is located on the for more ideas of where to ride or just to Petchakasem Road, next to B-Quick, with have another rider motivate them to push everything for sale that you need for biking the pedals a little harder once in a while. as well as a large selection of nearly new bikes at great prices. You will be taken through the back streets of Hua Hin to avoid the traffic as best we No matter how fit you are, there is a suitable can and show you all the intricate nooks guided bike tour for everyone. Exploring on and crannies of Hua Hin. We will do some a bicycle is a great and healthy way to learn off road riding along the train tracks and so much more about this part of Thailand in through some of the neighborhoods you a very enjoyable and safe way. These guided would normally not see. The reason we call tours show you what is worth seeing and it the “Hell Ride” is because you will need they take good care of you and your bike to climb some short but extremely vertical during your trip.

HUA HIN TODAY, September 2014 17 18 Events & promotions Calendar

HUA HIN TODAY, September 2014 19

September 2014 The 16th Shell Eating, Bird Watching & Squid Catching Festival in Cha-Am An Unforgettable Experience for Beachgoers in the Rainy Season The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) 4 p.m. daily, features a big fair of fresh in Phetchaburi would like to invite Thais seafood and stage performances at night. and foreigners to the 16th Shell Eating, Bird Organised in cooperation with the Singha Watching & Squid Catching Festival in Cha- Corporation and supported by the TAT Am from 13th -21st September 2014 at the Phetchaburi, the 16th Shell Eating, Bird Cha-Am lookout. This event, starting from

Watching & Squid Catching Festival in period when there are many squid in the Cha-Am is one of the biggest and most sea and many birds migrate from cold anticipated annual events. weather in the northern parts of the world. Highlights include a seafood fair launched Aiming to promote tourism in Cha-Am by 50 restaurants and hotels and stage between September and October, this performances every night. Festival encourages tourists to enjoy a ...Page 20 A Sustainable Vision For A Catholic Monument Thailand and Our Region in Cha-Am: The St Theresa Prayer Hall It’s one of the most unusual sights you are likely to come across in your local travels, presumably the legacy of a failed mission to spread Christian worship and the message of the Catholic Church in rural Thailand.

The Sirindhorn International Environment is a very accessible way for us all to see Park is a significant educational, research a slice of the natural wonders of Thailand, and environmental development facility. both flora and fauna. But more than that, it provides the opportunity to understand some of the On our visit to Sirindhorn, it was doing developmental issues facing the Region what it does best. Swarms of visitors; and Thailand in general. some corporate, some school groups, all eager to experience and learn ‘hands Next year the Park will host an international on’ how to be involved in environmental conference of environmental scientists protection and restoration. from around the globe. However it also ...Page 20 Today this religious building is a relic; a before reaching Cha-Am, Route 101 is magnificent monument slowly decaying. a main intersection with signs to the Golf However the symbols and religious murals Course heading west. of worship and Catholicism remain as The Course entrance is another 5 a glorious affirmation of the founders’ kilometres; after a further 500 metres you’ll Christian faith. We visited this virtually see a pillared entrance on the left. Follow abandoned building after a tip-off from the road a short distance and you’ll come the Hash House Harriers, thanks for your across the main large hexagonal building discovery Stuart! with impressively wide steps leading you If you know the entrance to the Springfield up to the second level of what once was Royal Country Club, it’s easy to find. the magnificent St Theresa Prayer Hall. Travelling on the bypass (Pranburi – Cha- Am) Highway North, about 10 kilometres ...Page 20

HUA HIN TODAY, September 2014 20 News

Hotel de la Paix A Sustainable Vision For Thailand and Our Region

Apart from the indoor displays featuring Sonjai is a very passionate environmental non-fossil fueled power sources, waste campaigner who is also proud of the disposal solutions and water management, accomplishments at Sirindhorn. Hotel de la Paix is delighted to announce that the hotel has joined Accor, the world’s leading visitors were taking part in mangrove Ruud Jansen has a history of involvement hotel operator. It is exciting to be a part of this legendary hospitality company which has over planting and the release of baby crabs in the management of Holland’s water 3,600 hotels worldwide. The hotel will be rebranded into a Sofitel So from mid 2015 and will back into the ocean. The Park theatre also systems as an expert who has helped keep be the second property under the brand in Thailand. shows in video form the history, aims and that country ‘afloat’. He met the Managing achievement of the Park and the Royal Director of Sirindhorn, Professor Doctor As a member of the Accor hotel network, guests can now book rooms at Hotel de la Paix Hua family’s involvement in the project. It’s Seree Supratid during a consultative visit Hin through www.accorhotels.com. also worth mentioning that there is an to Bangkok when the city was in need of English language dialogue which has been advice about flood management. As a very professionally produced. local resident, has been an active volunteer Our problem is how to convey the impact at the park for the past three years. that the Park has on its many visitors. Both our hosts were both very eager to The only real answer is we can’t; this can show off Sirnindhorn with a first-hand only be realised with a visit. Sirindhorn account of the history and future plans. may primarily be set up for group Our thanks to both the public relations tours for educational or corporate staff staff and the two resident experts for their development but anyone is welcome. warm welcome and enthusiastic efforts Perhaps a combination of a visit to the towards improving the ecological systems nearby Royal Palace with a pre-arranged and environmental future of the region. tour is the way to go. In our opinion it’s worth mentioning this if you are planning This really is a world class facility ready th to use one of the touring companies to show everyone how to manage a The 16 Shell Eating, Bird Watching around town. No reason why it can’t be sustainable future. on their schedule & Squid Catching Festival in Cha-Am Where: Enter the Rama VI Army Camp off We were very fortunate to have available the Cha-Am to Hua Hin highway about 10 the considerable expertise of two of the kilometres from Cha-Am. park’s champions. Dr Sonjai Havanond Contact: Phone 032 508 405 10, 032 508 is the Deputy Managing Director and Mr 352; ask for Khun Numpueng. Ruud Jansen is a senior consultant. Dr Website: www.sirindhornpark.or.th A Catholic Monument in Cha-Am: The St Theresa Prayer Hall

Squid catching is held daily from 7 p.m. to midnight. Anyone who would like to catch squid in the sea has to pay 100 Baht for a boat service and another 100 Baht for deposit of a rod and baits. On board, visitors can grill squid they catch and enjoy it with savoury and spicy dips free. The registration point for the squid catching is located to the south The Prayer Hall is clearly unused with Manas Chuabsamai baptized my wife of the lookout. birds flying through the open areas, a and summoned Saint Theresa to be her A bird watcher group is organising a free-of-charge bird watching trips from 14th to 21st broken tiled floor and ruined vestiges of guardian angel. In honour of God and Saint September. Taking place at 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. daily in Thung Takad Phalee and Khao Nang religious worship, including a fallen alter Theresa who always give us blessing, we Phanthurat National Park, this activity allows participants to admire local and migrating and crumbling statues. However all is had this prayer hall built with great belief in birds around swamps and at the foot of the hill. Guides will be available throughout the not lost. Many multi-level frescoes on the them. Here, people are allowed to practice trips. Those interested in joining this activity should register north of the lookout. walls show painted scenes of the Christian meditation, pray to God by themselves or message in remarkably good condition. convene a seminar or meeting.” This is a From 13th to 14th September, another special event will be speedboat racing, from 9.30 quote from the opening day, though no One such fresco shows the ‘garden of a.m. to 3 p.m. at the southern end next to the lookout. The speedboat racing includes date was described. several boat models: sport open boat, Mini Formula 1, Scooter 40 Open, Scooter 30 Eden’, complete with Adam and Eve, Open, Banana Boat 40 and Banana Boat 30. Applications for participating in the event dinosaurs and elephants! On 1st May 2005, the building was handed over to the Diocese in Ratchaburi (with can be made at the Chairman of Cha-Am Cruising Boat Club Mr. Montree Meerit, tel. 081 Vibrant stained glass windows are intact, responsibility for Petchaburi Province), 299 6171. beaming with reds, golds and blues. The with a message from Father Manas domed high ceilings are also resplendent Those who like fishing can take part in a fishing competition on 13th September at Chuabsamai (John Bosco). It had then with gold and red religious symbolism. Saphan Hin Cha-Am from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Prizes will be given for 6 fish types: giant sea been administered for 11 years (1994). He is This is would be an amazing sight in perch, grouper, stingray, bagrid catfish, drumfish and 1 other. quoted as saying “All I wish is to see is that many parts of the world, but in Thailand, the Saint Theresa Prayer Hall will continue Applications can be made directly to Mr. Thaweep Pinniem at tel. 081 9463261. absolutely astounding. There is evidence to serve as a spiritual sanctuary for anyone that the Prayer Hall still gets a little care Artists giving stage performances at the Festival include: in search of God. Here, people can pray, and attention with gardens and pathways h Naem Ronnadet Saturday 13th September meditate and improve their mind more being maintained. Your visit will be noted, h Luk Nam R-Siam Sunday 14th September profoundly. please leave it the way you found it! h Prem Preeyaphorn Monday 15th September That’s all we know so far about this h Touch Na Takuathung Tuesday 16th September But what of the history? accidental ‘discovery’; we’d like to h Ko Ya R-Siam Wednesday 17th September We organised an English translation of a know more. If you can tell us about this h View R-Siam Thursday 18th September stone proclamation in Thai, to see if there monument to Christianity in Thailand, h Saen Naga Friday 19th September were any clues. Here’s what we found: please let us know. A word of caution! On h Yes’ter Day Saturday 20th September the balcony at the side of the building we h Ja R-Siam Sunday 21st September The land was purchased by the Very Reverend Father Surachai Chumsriphan were attacked by a swarm of wasps, which For further information about the Festival, please contact the TAT in Phetchaburi at tel. and his wife on St Theresa Day (1st left some very painful memories; please 032 471 005-6 or Cha-Am Municipality at 032 472 550 or 032 471 665. October) 1991. “On that day, Father be careful!

HUA HIN TODAY, September 2014 News 21 The Patagonian Mara/Alpaca/Flamingo/Ostrich and CAMEL REPUBLIC! The Camel Republic officially now has camels. On our previous visit the camels were yet to arrive, but now there are five in situ, with more coming soon. Rumour has it that a giraffe will also soon arrive!

However there are some other rather exotic The camels have been imported from Australia. creatures at Cha-Am’s latest attraction. Some This is not at surprising as the country with the you may never have heard of before, let alone biggest population in the wild, something like seen up close and personal. 750,000 at last count. Mechanical creatures are also there to ride for the thrill seekers loving For example, a family of Patagonian Mara, all the flying high and finding new ways of losing their way from Argentina. Something between a very large rabbit and a very small deer. They enjoy the company of humans, do not bite and enjoy their chins/mouths stroked and ears scratched; frequently rolling over on their backs to get a good long tummy rub. At to that goats, swans, alpacas, finches, parrots, macaws and flamingos and it’s a very usual gathering of creatures from distant corners of the Earth. There are even African ostriches sharing an enclosure with an Australian emu.

lunch. Screams a plenty! sail high above the structure like sky divers after jumping from an aircraft. We wondered why one of the feature attractions the ‘Sky Flyer’ is placed outside the main The Camel Republic is now really up and entrance and walls. The reason became obvious running; check out the wildlife and mechanical when the very powerful turbine cranked up, life soon! sounding as loud as a small jet engine. This Where? - five kilometres north of Cha-Am on produces an extreme updraft so that the ‘flyers’ the main Bangkok Highway. Meet The New Tourism Authority of Thailand Interview New Regional Director Last month Cha-Am welcomed the arrival of the new Director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Phetchaburi office, Khun Akkrawit Thapasit. there for the first time. During my study at Nakhon Khiri-Muang Phet Festival, the Shell the university, I also participated actively in Eating, Bird Watching and Squid Catching tourism activities as a chairperson of a local Festival and the annual Cha-Am Hua Hin Golf guide club. When I completed the university Tournament. degree, I passed an exam to work for the The convenient location and availability to and games that use salt to play. Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)’s Pattaya welcome many visitors makes Cha-Am one of 5. The learning and traveling project which office for 19 years. Then, I was appointed the first choice of holiday getaway for Thais allows public officers and private company the deputy director there before moving to and foreigners alike.” staff to travel and learn by themselves at the TAT’s office in Rayong for 2 years. When centres of royal initiatives, local museums I worked in Pattaya, I was also a committee 4. In 2015, apart from promoting Bangkok, Phuket, Kho Samui, Chiang Mai and Pattaya, and other learning places in Phetchaburi and member of a tourism association on golf and Ratchaburi. other recreational activities. After Rayong, I how does TAT plan to promote Cha-Am? am assigned to work here in Phetchaburi.” “Since the TAT’s Phetchaburi office is 6. The project to promote traveling on responsible for a marketing campaign in 2 weekdays, with cooperation of hotels, resorts, 2. What is the main purpose of the TAT office golf courses, rented cars, restaurants, souvenir in Cha-Am under your supervision? provinces of Phetchaburi and Ratchaburi, in 2015, we have many projects to boost tourism shops and spas. This project encourages “Our office’s main responsibilities include in those areas so that families, working visitors to travel from Monday to Friday supporting and promoting our work jointly people, the senior, youths and members of instead of on weekends. It aims to reduce the done with public and private sectors to attract the niche market come here more often. The amount of tourists on weekends, enable local more interested tourists to visit Phetchaburi. projects aim to reduce the large number of business to earn more during weekdays and We are now working hard to encourage them tourists in some of other major tourist areas increase days for tourism for all year round.” to come here on weekdays and promote golf and promote traveling in low season. There 5. Do you have any new plans for TAT’s Cha- activities launched in the province.” are 6 projects: Am office? We were invited to attend the welcoming 3. What do you think is special about Cha-Am party at the Cha-Am Forest Park where Khun 1. The ‘Un...missable cities’ activity that “We are determined to launch more events in comparison with other tourist attractions promotes alternative tourism in 10 cities with private companies in the area. These Akkravit and the staff of the Cha-Am TAT in Thailand? office proved to be very affable hosts. of Thailand including Ratchaburi, the city events should provide more access to our “Cha-Am is located in the central part of entitled, City of Art. target groups who visit Cha-Am. And they He’s now a busy man taking steps to meet Thailand on the Gulf of Thailand side. It 2. The project to promote inter-regional should co-occur with beach activities, enable with tourism industry representatives of provides convenient travel for visitors because visitors to have fresh seafood here and be a the two Provinces within his sphere of tourism and golf in which a golf tournament the city is only 180 kms. or around 3 hours took place in Phetchaburi, Chanthaburi and part of social work.” responsibility (Ratchaburi and Phetchaburi) from Bangkok. Here, it offers tourists various Rayong. This will enable golfers to practice the 6. What other tourism activities remain for so we will need to wait until he takes a breath products and services on tourism with perfect sport and travel more in the three provinces. this year? after his ‘meet and great’ campaign before natural resources, such as beaches, rivers, we can get to know him better. However our forest, mountains, hotels, resorts and top- 3. The project, Bicycle Club Card by TAT Phet, “At the end of September which is also the thanks for Khun Akkrawit’s responses to our notched golf courses. The city is considered which encourages many bikers to travel to end of Thailand’s national fiscal year of 2014, written questions provided below. the golf destination of the world. Phetchaburi and Ratchaburi through the sale there is one more activity held by the TAT’s 1. Could you tell us briefly about your of the Bicycle Club that offers discounts at Phetchaburi office; the 13th Hua Hin/Cha-am Cha-Am also boasts several man-made many shops and hotels. Golf Festival 2014. This is an annual event educational and professional backgrounds? attractions which symbolize expansion of How did you gain experience in the tourism 4. The project, Phetchaburi: Salt, Sand and in the low season to promote tourism at 10 tourism business by private companies, leading golf courses in Cha-Am and Hua Hin.” industry? namely Santorini Park, Camel Republic, Swiss Mangrove Forest, that aims to promote a “Basically I have experience about travelling Sheep Farm and The Venezia. All of them visit along the scenic route in Bang Ta Bun- Editor’s Note: A description provided has from my family because we like to visit many attract a lot of visitors every year. Ban Laem-Had Chao and Cha-Am. Along the been omitted due to our coverage of this route, there will be many learning activities like Event). places in Thailand. When my university offered The city also has several tourism activities the Art of Salt which features salt sculpture, For more TAT Information visit: a course on tourism industry, I was among throughout the year, particularly the Phra those students who attended the course music performances on the beach, local food www.facebook/tatphetfanpage

HUA HIN TODAY, September 2014 22 Special Deals 23

HUA HIN TODAY, September 2014 24 Stroke – Go To Hospital F.A.S.T The Bangkok Hospital Hua Hin has begun a blood clot, air bubble or fat globule a campaign to make sure everyone forms in a blood vessel and is carried to the understand the signs, dangers and brain treatment options for Stroke. What’s the there is a blockage in the tiny bloody main message? We asked to three resident vessels deep inside the brain. neurology specialists that question and the answer was unanimous. “Time is important, Haemorrhagic strokes happen when a get to hospital as soon as you possibly can.” blood vessel bursts and bleeds into the brain (a haemorrhage). The haemorrhage October 29th is World Stroke Day, which may be due to: was established by the World Stroke Organization in 2006 to help spread public a vessel bursting within the brain itself, or awareness of the world’s high stroke risk a blood vessel on the surface of the brain and stroke prevalence. bleeding into the area between the brain When dealing with stroke, acting F.A.S.T. is and the skull. key to treatment and recovery. This is the What Are The Risk Factors For Stroke? main platform of the Stroke Campaign; You can’t prevent stroke but a healthy understanding the signs of a stroke and lifestyle will significantly reduce the risks. seeking early intervention. Controllable Risk Factors: ‘Saving your brain’ depends upon reducing High Blood Pressure every moment that it is deprived of oxygen! Atrial Fibrillation – Irregular heart beat High Cholesterol Diabetes Atherosclerosis – Thickening and hardening of the arteries Circulation Problems Tobacco Use and Smoking Alcohol Use Physical Inactivity symptoms or prevent more strokes first come across someone experiencing a Obesity Nutrients and fluids stroke. Uncontrollable Risk Factors: Physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and swallowing therapy will The doctors are all residents of the hospital Age in more ways than one. They say in hospital What Is Stroke? all begin in the hospital. Gender accommodation virtually ‘on site’ and are Stroke is a rapid loss of Race The goal of treatment after a stroke is to help available 24 hours / 7 days. brain function caused Family History you recover as much function as possible by a reduction in blood Previous Stroke or TIA (a transient and prevent future strokes. Recovery from The hospital can also arrange rapid transfer flow to the brain, ischaemic attack, also called a mini-stroke). your stroke will begin from the moment you (including by air) to Bangkok facilities in often caused by either Fibromuscular Dysplasia – Narrowing of in care, including in the ambulance on the critical cases when even more specialist blocked blood vessels the arteries way to hospital. It will continue when you facilities are required. leading to the brain or Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO or Hole in go home. The emergency line is , this will always a ruptured blood vessel the Heart) 1719 ensure a rapid response. An ambulance within the brain itself. About Bangkok Hospital Hua Hin Stroke What Are The Treatment Options? is likely to attend within 5 minutes, the There are two main Response Team If the stroke is caused by a blood clot, a The mainstay of the neurology team preferred way of starting treatment as types of stroke. clot-busting drug may be given to dissolve at The Bangkok Hospital are Doctors soon as possible. There is even a service to the clot. provide communications in your language Ischaemic strokes Yutthana Sriwichit, Paweena Narathong so that your call will be understood. happen when To be effective, this treatment must be and neurosurgeon, Doctor Parnamus started within 3 to 4 1/2 hours of when the something blocks an Piyavechvirat. Our thanks to the ‘brainy’ doctors at artery that carries symptoms first started. Other treatments By saying ‘mainstay’ we know that apart Bangkok Hospital for their hospital-ity, time blood to the brain. given in the hospital will depend on the from these specialist doctors and nursing and insights into Stroke! There are several cause of the stroke. These may include: staff, training all Bangkok Hospital staff possible causes: Blood thinners such as heparin, warfarin Suffering a Stroke incident may be a scary (Coumadin), aspirin, or clopidogrel (Plavix) to understand the symptoms and need event, but knowing that ‘best practice’ is a blood clot forms Medicine to control symptoms such as for rapid responses is a priority of the available in Hua Hin should provide all the in a main artery to high blood pressure hospital. This includes reception staff, car confidence you need. the brain Special procedures or surgery to relieve park attendants and everyone who may TRAINING FOR LIFE PROGRAM

once you understand the composition of the body and what your’s should be. We will meet 3 times per week with an additional 2 days of self-independent training. This will be structured for you to compliment your Personal Training sessions and help you move more quickly. The fee for this 3 month program is; 36,000THB. A savings of 7,200THB! This is a 3 month Personal Training program such as hip or/and knee replacements. It takes EFFORT! designed to get you well on your way in This includes fresh towels, water, 3-BodyFat achieving your goals with viable results. With the guidance of someone with 35 E. Energy F. Fun F. Focus O. Organization R. % tests, Training shirts, Meal plan, other years’ experience as a Personal Trainer, post Realistic goals T. Time classes, Fresh vegetable and fruit juice and HIIT Training has been recognized as surgery and injury rehabilitation specialist. an independent self-training program for If you have these things, then you are the best and quickest way to get into I have helped many people reconnect and you to follow on your off days. shape safely and effectively when taught learn to live again in their bodies with more assured favorable results. Anything short of correctly. With the added benefit of ease. Relieving their body of fatigue and that, and you will fail to achieve your goals. For a FREE 30 min. consultation, please call the gym to set up an appointment to resistance (weight) training after your initial injury, and gaining new confidence and We will take a body fat percent analysis meet. This is limited to only 6 people at this conditioning period, you will be adding a appreciation for their bodies. in the beginning, middle and end of the 3 time so act now! Each one will meet with new dimension into your sessions; giving months, to show you the real results. you the ability to sculpt your body as you It’s the only one you have to live in, better me independently as well as attend other continue to get into amazing shape! take care it!! Not only will you look different and tighter occasional group classes. in the mirror, you will understand exactly Just because you are tired, overweight, full In Health and Well Being, You will lose body fat, inches, many daily how much you’ve lost in Body Fat and how of aches and pains, feeling down, doesn’t Dean Scott, aches and pains, stiffness, weakness, and much you have gained in muscle and what mean you can’t change that around. It just POWERFIT 102 : 032 900 533 more. You will gain Power, Confidence, exactly your caloric intake is. Physical Strength, Inner Strength, Stamina means you have to be willing to look further Soi 102 Hua Hin. ahead and determine if you want to stay Then I can determine what your caloric and Flexibility. BALANCE THE BODY. that way or live again, in that wonderful intake should be in order for you to achieve BALANCE THE MIND. It is especially effective for those who are body of yours! your desired results and stay on track. The ACHIEVE WELLNESS. or have recovered from an injury or surgery numbers on the scale are of little importance

HUA HIN TODAY, September 2014 25

Nadpob Clinic’s newst Floor branch of is now open on the 1 The Market Village near Kool Cut Hair Salon Tel.089 910 1033 26 27 Carrying Your Passport Hua Hin Immigration – –Is This Really Some Bouquets! a Requirement? In recent weeks there has been a flurry of reports and forum discussion about requirements to carry an original passport and the enforcement of severe penalties for those who do not comply. A senior Immigration official was quoted Voravat also said that for expats living as saying: “By law, all tourists and expats here, a Thai driving license or photocopy nationwide are required to carry their of your passport can be used as a form of original passports with them at all times. identification. There is no exception to this. Failure to However, if Immigration Police suspect an carry your original passport may result in individual to be overstaying in Thailand or a 2,000 THB fine. The reason behind this being involved in illegal activity, then the is that Immigration needs to keep track of individual would be required to produce overstayers and foreign criminals who may their original passport promptly. be staying illegally in the country.” Entering or staying in Thailand without However common sense and an holding a valid passport and visa/extension examination of the law demonstrate this is subject to a fine and possible prison It’s easy to get a negative impression about service and the only reason I wasn’t gone is not the case. The Immigration Act, B.E. sentence. Thailand’s Immigration services. Whether in 15 minutes was the slight wait for 2522 states; an alien who has no lawful it be from internet forums or sitting at the change from the THB 6000 I handed over document for entering the Kingdom under “Making all foreigners in Thailand carry bar listening to stories, typically what you for payment of the THB 5700 due.” section 12(1);and has no identification their original passports with them would be hear are tales of woe, perhaps from those “Can’t see why people have problems, in accordance with the Law on Alien very difficult. It’s about being reasonable who either don’t know or don’t follow the registration, is considered to have entered go prepared with the correct paperwork and using common sense. But if we think rules. However here’s a recent posting the Kingdom in violation of the Act. and all will be fine. Thank you Hua Hin a foreigner is involved in illegal activity then from Thaivisa.com to give another side of we will of course need to see their original Immigration.” However there is no legislative requirement the story! passport, this is normal”, said Deputy for these documents to be carried, just We hope that Immigration officials will Commander Voravat. “I want to write something positive available if requested. read this posting and also pass on our about Thai Immigration. It seems that the compliments to the staff concerned. Thaivisa.com has reported on a meeting majority of posts are negative and it’s only with Deputy Commander and Police fair that positive experiences should be Where is the new Immigration Office? Colonel Voravat Amornvivat, a senior shared.” official at Immigration headquarters in As we reported in the previous edition, Bangkok. Deputy Commander Voravat “I attended the new Hua Hin Immigration the Hua Hin Immigration Office recently wanted to reassure the expat community office today for the first time. It was easy moved to new premises, easy to find and in Thailand about the current situation. to find and there was lots of parking convenient. space. I arrived just after 3pm (15:00) and Just turn into Soi 19 (east) off Petchakasem Deputy Commander Voravat confirmed was gone by 3.30pm (15:30), with a new that foreign tourists and expats do not Road. This soi has a temple entrance, often one year extension, for the purposes of need to carry their passports with them at disguised with banners advertising nearby retirement, of my Non-Immigrant ‘O’ visa all times. events, but there is also a very colourful and a multiple re-entry permit.” He said that tourists can leave their camel which is a great ‘marker’. Follow passports locked in their hotel safe and “Fantastic service, although admittedly the road until you reach a T Junction at the enjoy their holiday in Thailand without I did take with me all the paperwork end then turn right (Soi 35). After about worrying about the need to carry their required, including completed TM7 and 300 metres, the office is on the right hand original passport. Deputy Commander TM8. But seriously, no issues at all, friendly side and easy to spot. Indespensable Tips To Keep Your Passport Safe The friendly old passport: petite, colorful, there. Personally I’ve never had an issue in a little dog-eared but undoubtedly the 20 years of travel, but that doesn’t mean it international traveler’s best friend. It gives couldn’t happen. you the world and asks for nothing in return, If you have any doubts about the safety of except perhaps that you know where it is at your accommodations, keep the passport all times. But because of its intrinsic value, in your securely locked bag in the room. If it’s also a tremendous liability – to lose it you get cleaned out, might as well go all brings incalculable annoyance. the way. When It’s On Your Person Make copies If you must carry it with you, know where it Apart from security checkpoints at airports is at all times. Feel its reassuring edges at a and border crossings, it’s not necessary touch. Of course this way also puts it up to to drag out your actual passport book loss by way of theft or absentmindedness. for everyone who asks for it, not even Keep it under your clothes, in something policemen. A copy will suffice. And that doesn’t give away its presence, if something should happen to your something water resistant perhaps. passport, a paper photocopy or scan will also help speed up the process of getting Put your passport in a pouch, money belt or a replacement. With a scanner or copier: other under-the-clothes sack. If you must copy the photo and signature page. keep it in your pocket, consider that your back pocket equals already lost. If you’re Carry around two paper copies of your But if the management has problems with phone or email away. overly paranoid about identity-thieving passport, one in your day bag, one in your that, try Google Drive or else DropBox for Remember, a stolen passport can go for scanners, think about one of those high main luggage or with the rest of your non- file storage. Use PDF scans for additional big money on the black market so there’s tech passport covers. Of course, if you’re passport travel documents. Also consider security. You can also use a photo sharing an obvious incentive for a thief to get one of these people, you probably haven’t memorizing the vital passport info: number, site like Picasa or Flickr – they both allow yours. But with a little vigilance you’ll make left the house in the first place, so don’t expiration date, issue date, city issued. for private albums. Just make sure to it home just fine and with all your fancy worry about it. Reciting numbers may not always suffice, delete these photosets when you return. passport stamps intact. but it’ll certainly help in not having to dig No sense leaving them on the web for Keep it in the safe through your belongings all the damn time. grabby hackers when you’re not traveling. Oh by the way, stop worrying! The surest Most hotel rooms abroad have easy- way to problems is by dwelling on what- Before you leave, scan your passport and Leave one at home to-operate safes in which to lock your ifs. Presume that nothing will happen and keep it on a password enabled website. valuables. Just remember, it’s not a good Give paper copies to your closest contact chances are they won’t. And if they do, at Just email it to yourself – your passport idea to blindly trust a hotel safe. Any at home should all other options fail you. least you won’t have wasted all that time copy will never be farther away than your security can be breached if the desire is You’ll have an easy connection a mere worrying. inbox.

HUA HIN TODAY, September 2014 28 Last Month

HUA HIN TODAY, September 2014 29 30 MOTORING Mitsubishi Motors Introduces A New Mitsubishi Mirage Mitsubishi Motors Thailand has introduced the new Mitsubishi Mirage GLS Ltd with more style and more functions and a special campaign from 11th August at Mitsubishi showroom nationwide. Mr. Masahiko Ueki, the President of Mitsubishi Motors (Thailand) Company Limited introduced the new Mitsubishi Mirage GLS Ltd. The car has fuel consumption up to 22 km./L. The new Mirage has more stylists and functions which are under concept - Make Life More Fun”. New Mitsubishi Mirage GLS Ltd. has outstanding exterior design with 15 inches alloy wheels, door mirror with LED side turning lamp, short roof antenna. Also the interior comes with piano black design, leather wrap with silver decoration on steering wheel, audio control on steering wheel and auto air condition with chrome decoration. More utility functions are adjusted tray size, storage under steering column, 3 assist grips. Moreover, the new entertainment system of Mitsubishi Mirage GLS Ltd. comes with new touch screen monitor and navigation system, luggage room lamp, gear shift panel with illumination. More safety functions are emergency stop signal system, dual front pretension seatbelts and fronts stabilizer. The new Mitsubishi Mirage GLS Ltd. will be ready at Mitsubishi showroom nationwide from 11 August. Mr. Masahiko Ueki added that Mitsubishi will offer Mitsubishi customers who are interested in Mitsubishi Mirage, Mitsubishi Attrage and Mitsubishi Triton 0% interest and 0.99%interest for Mitsubishi Lancer EX and Pajero Sport. All models come with the Diamond Protection package; first class car insurance with 24 hours road assistant. Top Ten Movies for the Car Enthusiast We thought this would be a good time to see what movies might delight gear heads on a Gone in 60 Seconds slow moving Sunday afternoon. So, old and new, good or bad, these are the car movies we Both movies – the 1974 independent smash hit and 2000 consider the best to get the gasoline flowing through your veins. remake are notable of two things: Eleanor (alongside the other exotic cars and street chases) and the bad acting. Bullitt The first movie is excusable, being a very low budget flick We believe here we have a consensus – the chase in Bullitt made with friends and family of director, producer, writer, (1968) is the definitive movie car chase. Watched and obsessed stunt driver and main star H.B Halicki. Also, the first Gone about for the last 45 years, still holding up to scrutiny, and in Sixty Seconds is notable because of the 40-minute car worth watching at least every other month. scene in which 93 cars were wrecked or destroyed – a real We already know the chasing Charger loses too many hubcaps, treat for us fans. and it would have easily caught up with the lesser-powered The Nicolas Cage production is notable mostly for the fans that brought to life Eleanor as a Mustang (the Ford was 390 cu. in. and the Dodge was the 440 real car, for the final stunt destroyed by the FX guys (yes, the one with the incredible jump). Magnum V8 variety – 325 hp still cannot compete with 375 hp) And for Angelina Jolie… but for the era it was groundbreaking, and it set the bar for many upcoming action movies. Goldfinger This is considered as one of the best movies in the series, The road warrior aka Mad Max 2 establishing many of the later Bond movie elements, like This is Mel Gibson at his prime (1981 feels like a lifetime gadgets, and of course the technologically advanced ago), when he was more focused on his acting rather Bond car - impersonated here by the beautiful Aston than creating scandals. Plus, George Miller’s (also of The Martin DB5. And yes, we do feel that Sean Connery is by Witches of Eastwick fame) dystopian post-apocalyptic far the best Bond, James Bond. world promotes the archetypal anti-hero role and makes for the perfect setting of open road action that results in Aside from Goldfinger, we do admit this entry in the list wrecked cars and mayhem. to be an equal tribute to all the Bond movies, which relied heavily on the appeal of famous, and usually, British cars, acting as a necessary sidekick to the character of 007. We’d dread to Also, we feel this is one of the few examples where the sequel is even better than the original imagine what he’d be like if he didn’t have such awesome cars to help him out all the time… (Mad Max – 1979) while still featuring the “last V8” – a beautiful Aussie ’73 Ford Falcon Coupe with a Roots blower. What more can we say?! The Italian Job Both the 1969 Michael Caine and the 2003 Mark Death Race franchise Wahlberg/Charlize Theron iterations are very much Ultimately, the transformation of a 1975 cult action flick worth mentioning side by side, both being entertaining, (Death Race 2000) into a mindless car action sequence with well choreographed action sequences and intelligent of movies is a bad way to go. But we do have some plots. Oh, yeah, not to mention those crazy original Minis appreciation for the 2008 movie Death Race starring made into supercars and keen on doing crazy stunts and Jason Statham as Frankenstein, and his partner, the acting very British while carrying out gold robberies. beautifully transformed 2006 Mustang – armed with machine guns (2xM134), smokescreen, napalm, oil and a The 1969 version is definitely more British than we could 6 inch steel plate called “The Tombstone” for defensive purposes. allow it, but it does add a flavor that many American movies lack, especially if you watch back to back this and the remake. Still, the latter is well done and respects the original recipe of the We also feel that for the 2008 movie the host of armored and modified cars has more sense Minis doing all the hard work. than the utterly sci-fi 1975 cars, with European and US cars clearly recognizable and adapted to each of the support cast’s characters. Ok, there is also Death Race 2 and 3, but we really, The Fast and The Furious really don’t care about them. This is “carxploitation” at its peak, with so many things about cars being utterly wrong (oh, God, make me forget Vanishing Point 2 Fast 2 Furious) that it ended being very entertaining. So, This is one of the most important movies for the Mopar it has lasted more than a decade in the hearts and minds community, and also a very good example of action road movies of fans who know nothing about tuning, street racing, – the script only exists in order to give feeble motivation to all import cars, American cars, and technical stuff that we the stunt driving and Southwest American scenery throughout. really don’t see an ending in sight. Yes, they also say it’s a social commentary of the political mood in the day, but do we really care about that? Ok, we do give them the thumbs up for Vin Diesel, all the booty shaking and for bringing in Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. But what is in the producers What we do care about is the white ’70 Dodge Challenger R/T minds for going sci-fi on us and bringing back the dead – is Letty coming back as a zombie and the fact that the stunt coordinator (also driver for the major some sort of cross with the Resident Evil franchise?! stunts) is Carey Loftin, considered by many one of Hollywood’s best stunt drivers, numbering in his portfolio movies like Grand Ronin Prix (1966), Bullitt and The French Connection (1971). Ronin is another heist/spy movie that features an all-star cast of Hollywood and European actors, and a number American Graffiti of good “old-fashioned” BMWs, Mercedes and Audis. Considered by many the best movie of director George The director, John Frankenheimer, is a car enthusiast – he Lucas, the 1973 flick American Graffiti is also an obvious made the spectacular Grand Prix in 1966 – and delivered choice in our list, with hotrods (’32 Ford, ’55 Chevy, ’58 a truly solid performance in every way with the 1998 film Chevy), cruising, causing havoc and street-racing one Ronin. summer’s night in 1962. For many years to come, this will be one of the movies to watch by all those who want to Of course, we do care mostly about the car chases – see how was America in the “baby boom” era of the fifties which allegedly involved around 150 stunt drivers and around 80 intentionally wrecked cars. and early sixties. Also, we should note that besides the We also heard whispers that DeNiro never felt comfortable in the cars, being replaced by the cult classic status achieved today, the movie was a hit director himself for the stunt scenes – albeit the stunt driver was the one doing the actual with both box office viewers and critics alike. Being nominated for the Academy Award for driving, the cars being right-handed. Best Picture, and included in 1995 by the Library of Congress in the National Film Registry.

HUA HIN TODAY, September 2014 Wellness 31 Have you ever heard of “T25 Work-out”? According to figures from Mahidol University’s Despite all these reasons, many of us are just because nobody but yourself can push you Institute for Population and Social Research, not keen to exercise and prefer to blame it through this program! Thai Women are the second most overweight on the boy/girlfriends, spouses, work, traffic, T25 promises: in Southeast Asia. Over the past 20 years, a periods, headaches or kids. We all know ● Significant weight loss 1/3 of Thai adults are overweight. that exercise is a must for an optimal healthy ● Visibly improved muscle tone and strength lifestyle, but still we just cannot convince Two main reasons are an inactive lifestyle ● Increased endurance and improved cardio ourselves to get up and go! and the environment which makes exercises health inconvenient. When people are interviewed But I have the solution for you!! Trust me you ● With the optional Gamma Cycle, even in the street the main reasons or excuses will never be able to make excuses with this more improved muscle tone for that ripped offered are: latest work-out trend called T25! You read it look, as well as further increased strength. “I have no time” correctly, 25 Minutes is all it takes! If I’ve intrigued you, do check out that the full “I don’t like to get sweaty” FOCUS T25 is the latest creation of Shaun T, review on the official website. http://www. “I’m already tired from taking care that puts you through five workouts a week, beachbody.com/product/fitness_programs/ of my children and house work, none of which take more than thirty minutes, focus-t25-workout.do why should I exercise?” for ten weeks in total. There’s no time wasted! “Exercise is for the rich, gym memberships The Ugly Truth is that this Program will As are too expensive” There are two cycles to the workout: ALPHA Effective As Your Commitment and BETA, each of which is five weeks long. Don’t think you can just order the kit in and How does it look? do a half-baked job and still get the kind of results I’m talking about. So now you know If you purchase the base kit, you get 10 what to do! featured workouts plus 1 bonus workout on 9 DVD’s. Beyond that, you get the ‘Quick Start The full package is available on Amazon for Guide, the ‘Get It Done Nutrition Guide’, the less than 140 $US. ‘ALPHA-BETA Calendar’. Check also with your gym instructors if they Finally, you also get the ‘Stretch Workout’, are willing to create a program for you. which helps you keep your body healthy and If you cannot afford this program or a coach injury free, the ‘5-Day Fast Track Plan’ which Some Interesting Facts - (Source Fitness First at the gym, there are so many things you can will help you jump-start your weight loss, and Thailand) do to get your heart rate up even for 30mins. a ‘B-Lines Resistance Band’ to help you add - 75% of Thais avoid exercise because they You can go biking, swimming, join yoga resistance to your workouts. are not sure how to do it. classes or Thai boxing. - 52% of Fitness First Thailand’s Members Does it work? You can also stay home and follow workouts are Women. If you really follow this program entirely, with from internet, DVDs or download apps on - 45% Minutes is the average time spent at motivation and consistency then yes! it will your phone to use. the gym per visit. work. It will help regenerate your metabolism, - 37% say they exercise to lose weight. There is no way you cannot find 30mins to burn fat, and get into better shape. - 36% say they intend to exercise, but don’t improve your body. follow through. What You Will Need? You may not have the same results as - 24% of those who have exercise equipment Everything you need is included in the base Focus25, but it will always be good for your at home never use it. (Using it to hang kit. However you also need motivation, body and your health. clothes does not count) Why You Should Add These Superfoods to Your Diet Superfoods are one of the trendiest topics And most other sea vegetables have Avocado in the health and nutrition world. It’s almost tremendous health benefits. They contain This healthy food sometimes gets a bad impossible to read any book or article about nutrients that help to remove heavy metals rap due to its high fat content. In reality, the nutrition without the mention of them! But and detoxify the body. They also provide avocado is packed full of healthy fats including what exactly is a superfood and why are they minerals that can decrease the risk of cancer monosaturated fats and glutathione. These so good for you? and regulate cholesterol. Dried and salted seaweed, called nori, is a great addition to The term “superfood” is a classification for any Japanese dish. Larger, dried pieces of foods that have the highest concentration seaweed, like kombu, can be added to boiling of nutrients and vitamins. Superfoods aren’t water for soup and removed before serving. just additives! Many superfoods are actually supplement, or as dried, whole mushrooms, vegetables, like kale or mushrooms, which which can be rehydrated or used in sauces. Hemp Seed can be eaten on their own! Honey Spirulina or Blue-Green Algae

fats, along with nutrients like vitamin E, This smoothie addition is packed with protein. folate, and lutein help protect your body from In fact, it contains 33% pure digestible protein. terminal illnesses like cancer. Spread some It is also rich in amino acids and vitamin E. on your morning toast or whip up a batch of Bee pollen and honey both have very high Also have a relatively bland taste, so adding guacamole to stay healthy! levels of vitamin B9 and all 21 essential a scoop to your morning berry smoothie amino acids, which makes them complete won’t change the taste too much! Kale proteins. Both honey and bee pollen are also a great source of minerals, antioxidants, and Raw Chocolate This superfood is a great addition to your probiotics. Can be purchased and added to morning green smoothie! Blue-green alga is smoothies or taken as a supplement. Honey the world’s richest source of complete protein. can also be eaten on its own or added to Which is a type of blue-green algae that can sweeten any dish, but for maximum health be purchased at health food stores, provides benefits, raw, local, organic should be used. minerals, phytonutrients, and enzymes. It’s a great dietary addition for healthy, strong skin Seaweed and hair. Medicinal Mushrooms These mushrooms include reishi, cordyceps, Cacao is the superfood that everyone already shiitake, and several others. Medicinal Calorie for calorie, like kale provide more loves to eat! Not only does it taste good, but mushrooms are high in polysaccharides and nutrients that any other food. They are full of raw chocolate is also the highest source of have strong immune-enhancing components. fiber, vitamins, and minerals that help protect antioxidants found on earth. Plus, it helps They have even been effective in fighting you against heart disease and cancer. To to balance brain chemistry and boost your off cancer cells. You can purchase them in maximize the nutritional benefits, eat kale mood. powdered form or in capsules as a daily raw (be sure to it first!) or lightly steamed.

HUA HIN TODAY, September 2014 32 Lizzy’s Corner Es ist mir ein grosses anliegen über M.C.C. Dementsprechend ist auch meine sprache. haben’s schwer, ich wollte es mir auch gar könnt. Bitte hilft M.C.C. Hua Hin, quatscht Multi cultural community zu schreiben. Meine sprache ist so ein wirrwarr, dass ich nicht leicht machen ! Wenn es nicht klappt, allen an, damit sie zum M.C.C. event Dafür muss ich mir erst mal kurz vorstellen. mich selber manchmal nicht mehr verstehe. mache ich halt einen bingo abend“ kommen. Also, ich bin Lizzy, eine Indonesierin, Na ja, hauptsache die anderen verstehen Mein freund Sammy Peter (damalige Uns geht es doch so gut in Thailand, wir Holländerin, Deutsche und Schweizerin. mich, denke ich dann meistens. operation manager im Hilton HH) hat immer sollten Thailand etwas zurück geben Lach‘ bitte nicht, alles stimmt. Eine Es ist unglaublich, aber man versteht mich. an mir geglaubt, brachte mich näher zum können. Es tut gar nicht weh, denn in den sogenannte „mixed salad“. Diejenigen die mich nicht verstehen, wollen Micheal Schmitt (mit 2 T‘S) den damaligen ticket ist euren beitrag an Thailand bzw es einfach nicht, weil ich eine ziemlich general manager vom Hilton Hua Hin. für all meine charity projekte inbegriffen. direkte sprache spreche, was nicht immer Yippee ! Michael fand meine idee auch Diejenigen die das nicht einsehen wollen, akzeptiert wird. suuuper. Sammy & ich jubelten und M.C.C. dürfen gerne wegbleiben. wurde geboren. Januar 2013. M.C.C. Hua Wurde ich inkl. Grossfamilie nach Holland Schöner kann man nicht mehr gutes tun/ Hin event war von anfang an ein riiiiiiiiiesen evaquiert. Von Kerkrade, Süd Holland ging spenden als bei M.C.C. Hua Hin. Was für erfolg. San Paulo Hospital hat M.C.C. Immer ich nach Aachen und meine tournee endete eine fantastische gemeinschaft sind wir supported. in Zürich. Und überall sah ich multi kulti’s, doch geworden. Für Hua Hin sind wir keine wurde selber eine M.K. Wir kommen jeden 28 des monats popelige farangs, nein, wir sind eine multi zusammen. Nie hatten wir weniger als kulti gemeinschaft. Als ich noch jung und schön war, habe ich 100 gäste. M.C.C. Jubiläum Januar 2014 im das als negativ empfunden. Es war nicht Es ist uns allen gelungen, dass auch unsere Hyatt Regency war die absolute rekord. immer schön überall ein fremder vogel zu Thailändische freunde sich wohl fühlen in Wir haben den zahl 200 geknackt. Gäste sein, aber im nachhinein muss ich feststellen, unsere multi kulti gemeinschaft. “Reicht kamen aus Spanien, Switzerland und dass es sogar sehr gut war. Deshalb euch die hand im ausland“ Holland. gründete ich in Zürich eine „Usländer Club“. Euere Lizzy, Multi Cultural Community Da gab’s dann viele fremde vögel, ich fühlte Was die meisten gar nicht wissen, Hua Hin Presidentin mich sauwohl. Meine freundinnen fühlten M.C.C. Event war, ist und wird immer ein sich wohl. That’s it ! charity event bleiben. Alle nationalitäten kamen zusammen, lernten sich kennen, Egal wo ich war, wollte ich menschen freundschaften wurden geknöpft, feierten zusammen bringen. M.C.C. war immer in monat für monat ausgelassen miteinander meinem kopf. In Hua Hin wimmelt es von und wie mehr gäste kamen, desto mehr vielen fremden vögel aus aller herren länder. konnte ich für den bedürftigen tun. Hier gibt’s viel zu tun Lizzy, packen wir’s An dieser stelle möchte ich mich ganz ganz an. M.C.C. soll geboren werden, aber zuerst herzlich bei meinen freunden bedanken, die musste diese idee geschwängert werden. sehr wohl wussten, dass M.C.C. ein charity Als ich meine idee herumposaunte, hiess gemeinschaft ist. es „hör‘ auf, Lizzy ! Deine idee ist klasse, aber vergiss es, das wird nix!“ Ein bisschen Sie gaben sich viel mühe und brachten rebellisch war ich schon immer und ich monat für monat gäste mit. dachte : Deswegen mein appell an euch allen: “Wie hör‘ auf ! Ich habe noch nicht mal Bitte bringt soviel wie möglich freunde mit, angefangen. Jetzt erst recht! Alle pioniere auch wenn ihr selber mal nicht dabei sein

Disability Transport On 20th August 2014 Mr. Nopporn, Lord Mayor of Hua Hin and his staff cooperated with the Chairperson of Hua Hin Women’s Club, Mrs. Lisa Onghang to donate a three wheeled bike to Khun Sawang Thai-derm from the Bo Fai Community who is physically disabled.

Donation for Lions The Chairman of the Preserve Hua Hin Group Mr. Krip Rijasathira donated 20,000 THB to Mr. Khanit Choksuchart, the new Chairman on behalf of the Lions Hua Hin. The donation was made at Hua Hin Grand Hotel at the beginning of this month.

HUA HIN TODAY, September 2014 33 34 OFF BEAT World news

Alligator Bites Man Fishing Golf Balls Toddler Crashes Jeep, Runs Home to From Lake (USA) Watch Cartoons (USA) A Florida man fishing golf balls out of a Police say a toddler crashed a Jeep into an lake around the Bonaventure Country Oregon home then ran back to his home Club in Weston encountered an especially to watch cartoons. difficult water hazard when an alligator bit him. Authorities say the 3-year-old boy who was wearing only a diaper climbed into the The victim, 51-year-old Stephen Martinez, Jeep and knocked it out of gear. Witnesses of Pompano Beach, said the gator bit his say it rolled down the street, through an hand and then kept trying to attack him. intersection and into the house, causing Martinez then got in a golf cart and drove minor damage. An officer found the boy to the golf course and told two employees on a couch watching TV as if nothing had of the course. It was the second time in happened. The toddler’s parents weren’t Police cited a 22-year-old man for failing five years that Martinez, an independent home and another relative was sleeping. to supervise a child. contractor who sells balls back to golf clubs, has been attacked on the job. Study shows Stonehenge’s “I knew exactly what it was because a turtle can only bite so hard and when it Musical Qualities (England) snapped, it’s 2,000 pounds per square Researchers say Stonehenge may have inch and I felt like I lost my hand,” Martinez been a giant stone xylophone, perhaps the said. first version on ‘Rock Music’. A team of sound specialists from Big Mouth: Surgeons Remove 232 Teeth London’s Royal College of Art say they from Teen (India) have discovered a previously unreported feature of many of the iconic standing Surgeons in Mumbai have removed stones. When struck, they make a clear, 232 teeth from the mouth of an Indian loud noise. teenager in what they believe may be a Mr Devereux said: “We found a significant After acoustically sampling 1000 original world-record operation, the hospital said. percentage of the actual rocks making rocks in the stony outcrop, many of the Ashik Gavai, 17, sought medical help for metallic sounds like bells, gongs, tin standing stones were musical; different a swelling on the right side of his lower drums when tapped with small handheld sounds could be produced from different jaw and the case was referred to the ‘hammers.” places on the same stones. city’s JJ Hospital, where they found he was suffering from a condition known What’s In A Name – as complex odontoma, head of dentistry condition results in benign tumors made Sunanda Dhivare-Palwankar said. The of teeth-like structures. 63 Names That Is (Sweden) A man from the town of Haninge, near Mysterious River Runs Blood-Red (China) Stockholm, Sweden, has officially changed his name to a staggering 63 words. Baffled locals who used to boast that they This is his sixth official name change. Are had one of the healthiest rivers in China you ready to say this without taking a because there were no factories along its breath? banks were baffled when within the space of an hour the river turned a deep, dark Born Alexander Ek, he is now officially red. known as Kim-Jong Sexy Glorious Beast Divine Dick Father Lovely Iron Man Even Local Na Wan said, “A few people that Unique Poh Un Winn Charlie Ghora Khaos were up and about at 5 a.m. said that Rusell Salvador Alfons Molgan Akta Papa Mehan Hansa Kimmy Humbero Uno everything was normal but then suddenly Long Nameh Ek. Master Over Dance Shake Bouti Bepop within the space of a few minutes the water Rocksteady Shredder Kung Ulf Road He has said that he was happy being started turning darker and eventually was House Gilgamesh Flap Guy Theo Arse known as Papah Long Nameh for short; completely red. how it could have ended up being polluted Hole Im Yoda Funky Boy Slam Duck Chuck the last three names – rather than names “The really weird thing is that we have because there are no factories that dump Jorma Jukka Pekka Ryan Super Air Ooy 39 and 40! always been able to catch fish and you anything in the water here.” can even drink the water because it’s just normally so good. Nobody has any idea Cleric: Men allowed to spy on women in the shower if they have Maybe The World’s Oldest Person (Brazil) ‘pure intentions’ (Eygpt) A man from Brazil could be the oldest Men can spy on women in the shower, living person ever at 126 years old. Jose an extremist cleric has argued in Egypt, Aguinelo dos Santos, or Ze, as he’s prompting outrage from other Islamic known at the rest home where he’s lived scholars. since 1973, has identification and a birth certificate that states he was born on July According to Osama al-Qusi, a Salafist or 7, 1888. ultraorthodox preacher, peeping toms can watch a woman wash as long as they are Officials say that Ze first arrived at the rest interested in marrying her. home with nothing but the clothes on his back. Ze still exhibits a playful personality “If you were really honest and wanted to after all these years. marry that woman, and you were able to hide and watch her in secret, and see the Egypt’s minister for religious affairs, Ze was born to a former slave in a the Guinness World Records the oldest things that she wouldn’t usually let you see Mohamed Mokhtar, condemned him “and community founded by runaway slaves, ever living person was Japan’s Jiroemon before marrying her, then it is acceptable his ilk”, saying: “Where is the glory and and later worked as a laborer on farms Kimura who passed away in 2013 at the as long as your intentions are pure,” Qusi masculinity in watching a woman shower? and coffee plantations. According to age of 116. said in an online video translated by the Would you allow this to happen to your al-Arabiya news network. daughter?” Building Evacuated Over Smelly Fridge Drink Driving or Was He? (France) (Germany) A British husband and wife had travelled Emergency officials called to check out a to Paris to attend a good friend’s wedding. suspected gas leak in Germany found a On the way back to their hotel their car was culprit they didn’t expect: a fridge full of pulled over by the Gendarme. “Excuse me rotting food. Sir, have you been drinking any alcohol?” asked the policeman. “Yes, we’ve just come Police in the central city of Braunschweig back from a wedding”, replied the husband. said Thursday that the fire service “I think I had four glasses of champagne, evacuated an apartment block in the city then later quite a few beers, it was a big Wednesday night after being alerted to day.” the smell of gas by a resident. “Well Sir, I need you to blow into this They then searched for the source and breathalyzer because it sounds like you will “however this is a British car and my wife is traced it to a fridge in the apartment of authorities. It wasn’t plugged in and was be over the limit” said the Policemen with driving on the other side, you may want to the 35-year-old woman who had alerted full of rotting food. a stern look. “That’s OK” said the husband, ask her!”

HUA HIN TODAY, September 2014 Classifieds 35

Condos and Land for Sale by Owner Baan Chai Talay ( next to Hyatt on Hua Hin Main Beach) Learn Thai 2brs/2 bths 129 sq.m. 2nd Flr. Baan Saechuan (opposite Market Village on LookingLooking toto RentRent Hua Hin Main Beach) 2 brs/2 bths 99 sq.m. Ground Flr. or English Boathouse (near Palm Hills Golf ) 1 br/1 bth 67 sq.m. Ground Flr. Covered Parking 1 br/1 bth 60 sq.m. Ground Flr. Covered Parking Both with terrace direct into pool at Sirada Palm Pavilion (very good deal, opp. Makro on the beach) for 1 year 2 brs/2 bths / 2 balconies 120 sq.m. 3rd Floor Lake View for 1 year The Learning Centre Land on Palm Hills Golf Course 1.5 Rai - 2.400 sq.m. Located in Palm Village on main lake with great scenery [email protected]@gmx.de For price and nego please contact Fully accredited by M: 081-829-5478, 086-003-6920 the Ministry of Education E: [email protected] Education Visa for LAND Eligible Applicants HOMES Sirada RENTALS The Learning Centre H Land...1 rai..60x27m..only 2m baht Ground Floor 83/14 Wongchomsin Bldg. H Mountain side lots near Banyan golf 2 rai parcels..8 rai total ..800,000 per rai Phetkasem Road Hua Hin H 2 story villa 2.9 just reduced to 2.5 m (between Soi 63/1 and Soi 65) H RENTALS..day week month year..life time H 7.5 Rai near Pranbri Dam 200,000 per Rai Phone: 032 532 650 352 Kao Kuang Road N. Pranburi 083 801 1335 Many properties Available Thai 087 882 4453 Eng 089 911 6536 www.learningcentre.co.th Email: [email protected] Email: info@learningcentre co.th

Looking to Buy Direct from the owner HOUSE 2-3 bedroom 3-6 million or CONDO 1-3 bedroom 3-8 million ( No Kao Takiab / No condo Chain) Looking to Rent Direct form the owner Condo for Rent House / Condo 15,000 – 30,000.- 45m2, 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, For long term Please send Photo th fully furnished, 8 floor & Price at [email protected] 10,000 THB per month Available from 1st of April Looking for Garage Contact: 0819812997 I am looking to rent a garage place or 0909213547 for one car in Hua Hin. Email: [email protected] Period Mid March-Mid November 2014 Email: [email protected]

HUA HIN TODAY, September 2014 36 Spa & Health Cape Spa @ Cape Nidhra Hotel, Hua Hin The Spa’s interior and treatment rooms have been decorated with a combination of earth tones and grey stone with relaxing water features, exuding a luxurious and very calming atmosphere. I was invited to try out the “Full Moon Anti Stress Massage”. At the reception you choose which aroma oil you prefer for the treatment, my choice was ‘Vanilla’, but the other ones were just as good. In the treatment room, it started with an aroma foot soak and a sea salt scrub of the feet, followed by a shoulder and back massage that had just the right movement, speed and pressure. The “Anti Stress” part had already started to work; the therapist then applied a warm herbal compress all over my back and shoulders.

Performed for hundreds of years, herbal massage is known to provide deep relaxation while relieving stress and fatigue. The compress contains a mixture of Thai herbs and oils that have specific medicinal benefits. Once warmed, it is applied with a rolling motion. This was not only a very relaxing massage but it also had medicinal benefits. We all experience stress at some point in our lives. If you do, I can warmly recommend taking the “Full Moon Anti Stress” massage. It lasts 70 minutes and cost THB 1,600 ++. ‘A perfect way back to peace of mind.’ Water Soluble Vitamins In this article, we will continue our talk about vitamins and may result in diarrhea, colic or constipation. Vitamin B9 minerals by focusing on the Water Soluble Vitamins. There is essential for the development the nervous system of a are two kind; Vitamin B and Vitamin C. Water Soluble foetus. Lack of Vitamin B9 may result in fatigue, having Vitamins give different benefits and can be found in acnes as well as tongue and mouth ulcers. In the long term different sources. a lack of Vitamin B9 may cause you anaemia, osteoporosis and an increase in colorectal cancer and cervical cancer. There are various types of Vitamin B: 8. Vitamin B12 (Cyano Cobalamin) plays an important 1. Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) plays an important role in the role in the function of body cells especially in the marrow, transformation of carbohydrates. Lack of Vitamin B1 may nervous system and alimentary tract. Lack of Vitamin B12 result as having beriberi with the first symptom of fatigue, may result as Macrocytic Anemia and disorders of nervous loss of appetite and feel numb in hands and toes. Vitamin system. Vitamin B12 can usually be found in animal’s parts B1 can usually be found in pork and beans. like liver, kidney and also fish sauce. 2. Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) plays an important role in 9. Vitamin B15 (Pangamic Acid) is usually found in yeast, providing energy for our body. Lack of Vitamin B2 may grains and coarse rice. Vitamin B15 has many benefits result in Hyporiboflavinosis Ariboflavinosis (Canker Sore especially to the hair, muscle, liver, brain and heart. It also Lips) and Cheilosis. Vitamin B2 can usually be found in liver, help with the metabolism of fat, make Vitamin E more heart, egg, milk and green vegetable. active and help with the treatment of certain neurologist 3. Vitamin B3 (Niacin) plays an important role in metabolisim diseases. Some doctors use Vitamin B15 in their treatment which providing energy and creating fat in our body. Lack for diabetes and stroke. of Vitamin B3 may result as having dermatitis as a reaction to sun, diarrhea, dementia and memory loss. Vitamin B3 Vitamin C or Ascorbic Acid is a highly effective antioxidant can be found in meat and tripe. substance. Most animals can synthesise Vitamin C, but 4. Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid) plays an important role humans, monkeys and guinea pigs have to rely on Vitamin in the growth of the body. It helps to create new cells and C from the food that they eat. Vitamin C plays an important also neurotonic. Our bodies needs at least 200 milligram of role in the creation of collagen, which is essential to the Vitamin B5 per day. creation of cells and tissues and for the repair of gums, 5. Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) plays an important role in teeth, bones and blood vessels. Other benefits of Vitamin protein metabolism in our body. Lack of Vitamin B6 may C include helping the body absorb iron, preventing the result as numbness and anaemia. oxidation of bad cholesterol, helping in the treatment of 6. Vitamin B7 (Biotin) helps in the metabolism of fatty wounds, burns and bleeding gums. It also increases the acid and amino acid. Vitamin B7 helps with skincare and efficiency of drugs used in urinary tract infections treatment, treatment for neurological diseases. Vitamin B7 can usually decrease cholesterol levels in blood, prevents virus be found in liver, beans, fruit, yeast, tomatoes and egg yolk. infections and other kinds of bacterial infections, prevents Lack of Vitamin B7 may cause skin rash, hair loss, fatigue, the creation of nitrosamine compound (carcinogen), helps nausea and vomiting. in the prevention and treatment of flu. Vitamin C is usually 7. Vitamin B9 (Folic Acid) is beneficial to DNA synthesis, found in fruit with a sour flavour, berries, green vegetables, growth of cells and is necessary for the creation of red tomatoes, cantaloupe, cauliflower, potatoes and peppers. blood cell. Other benefits of Vitamin B9 include food This may seem like a long list, but be assured that this digestion, soothing the mind and emotion because this information is very important. In our next article we will be vitamin helps the nervous system. Lack of Vitamin B9 talking about minerals.

HUA HIN TODAY, September 2014 37 38 Pet Care

Neutered animals do not naturally get fat. Body condition is related to calories, so you as the keeper of the calories, control your dog’s weight, his or her reproductive organs don’t.

When to neuter? A male dog can be neutered any time after eight weeks of age. A few years ago, most veterinarians advised waiting until puberty hit at about six months, and some still make that recommendation. Talk to your veterinarian about what’s best for your dog. If your dog’s testicles don’t descend, you still need to have him neutered. These dogs tend to have more testicular tumours than normal dogs.

Preparing your dog for surgery: Pre-surgical blood testing is usually offered to make sure your dog is healthy enough for surgery and doesn’t have any health conditions that would affect the choice of anaesthesia. Typically, young and healthy dogs don’t need it, but it’s a good idea to have a baseline reference for future blood tests. Follow the directions your clinic gives, but generally speaking, the dog should not Neutering is a very simple routine surgery. Most clinics will release the dog on the same eat for at least eight hours before the surgery, because the day. After surgery, he will be a little lethargic and perhaps a little tender around the anaesthesia may cause nausea. Drinking water beforehand is fine. testicular area, but this goes quickly and heals up within 10 days. Especially if you have What to expect post-surgery: a mixed bread, there is absolutely no reason to keep your male intact. Male dogs can usually go home the same day they have the procedure. The He will be a better dog when it is neutered. If cost is dog might be a little nauseated and turn away an issue, there are low cost spay neuter clinics in from food for the first day or two. No need to almost every town. Aside from the risk associated with be an overbearing parent and force your anaesthesia (true of any operation including dental dog to eat; he’ll be fine even if he misses work), there really are no negative effects. a few meals.

Benefits: For the first few days after surgery, the dog’s scrotum The benefits to your dog — aside from his not siring will be swollen. You would be far from the first person unwanted puppies — to wonder if the vet really did the surgery: “Doc, are are considerable: you sure he was neutered? It looks — well, it looks - He’s less likely to get certain diseases, such as testicular just the same as it did before surgery. Just swelling, cancer and most prostate huh? Uh...you’re sure, right?” Often this swelling is diseases. exacerbated because the dog licks the incision. - He will be calmer with less testosterone in his system, If your vet has used stitches, they’ll need to be and thus you’ll be calmer too. removed after about seven to 10 days, depending on - He’ll mark less, inside and out, since he has less the type of stitching material used. Your veterinarian incentive to announce his presence. will give you details about how to check that the - The lower level of testosterone can improve, if not incision is healing, and when to come back in for this eliminate roaming, aggression, humping, and final detail. other dominance-related behaviours. He still might want to hump, but mounting after neutering After neutering, a puppy’s scrotum will flatten as he has more to do with dominance than sex. grows, and you won’t notice it. Adults will always He can still show interest in females in heat or hump have a flap of skin from the empty scrotum. Typically, your knee. most dogs want to play hard the next day, but restrict - In the case of senior dogs, neutering reduces the size his activity for a couple of days so the incision of an enlarged prostate. doesn’t open. Some mild bruising can occur around the incision. The health and behavioural benefits occur whether your boy is a wee puppy or a distinguished senior citizen. What to watch for after the surgery: Check with your vet if there’s a discharge from the Cons (described by some people): incision, or if your dog seems to be in excessive pain. He’ll never be able to sire pups again. But I don’t (It’s rare for a dog to need pain medication, but it’s think that’s negative since there are already too many not unheard of.) If the dog keeps licking the stitches, unwanted pets in the world. Also, his metabolism will be use a collar to prevent this. Some dogs have trouble slightly lower so diet should be more closely regulated. walking while wearing these, and they bump into doorways and tables. No matter what, have the dog wear it even during sleep, because licking can prevent the incision from healing properly.

PLEASE, PLEASE get your dog fixed. It’s truly the only responsible choice you can make. :) Go volunteer for a day at any local shelter and you’ll see our point.

HUA HIN TODAY, September 2014 39 40